Lovers of Mozart and the silver screen are in for a treat with Opera Bastille’s latest production of Don Giovanni: Directing the opera is Austrian film director Michael Haneke, the man behind movies like ‘Funny Games’ and ‘The Pianist”, and Bastille’s star conductor Philippe Jordan.
The production promises to be both fiery and dark. Of the three operas Mozart wrote with Da Ponte, Don Giovanni is the most sombre, with passionate characters and tempestuous music. By setting the opera in a city reminiscent of New York, Haneke adds an element of modernity and realism to the story, thus amplifying the tragedy of Don Giovanni’s philanderings.
Playing the serial seducer is Peter Mattei, with Paata Burchuladze (Commendatore), Patricia Petibon (Donna Anna), Bernard Richter and Saimir Pirgu (Don Ottavio), Véronique Gens (Donna Elvira), David Bizic (Leporello) and Nahuel Di Pierro (Masetto).