Going out the other night to see Pacific Opera Victoria’s Don Giovanni, I was excited simply because it was the first opera I had ever seen, many years ago, at five years old. Even then I had been enchanted by the costumes, the singing, and Mozart’s inimitable music.
Don Giovanni is an opera oozing with seduction, fear, and comedy. Yet, under Maria Lamont’s direction, this production also manages to capture the complications of the human psyche inside Don Giovanni’s storyline.
Main character Don Giovanni, performed by bass-baritone Daniel Okulitch, is a cocky and narcissistic womanizer; he enjoys making a game out of seducing women and fleeing the scene, leaving behind him a trail of broken hearts. His despicable behaviour doesn’t end there—he also uses his servant Leporello (Justin Welsh) to clean up all his messes, landing Leporello in some very precarious situations. Leporello is the opera’s comic relief, and Welsh makes the character as lovable as he is funny; I wanted to shake him by the shoulders for being constantly persuaded into Giovanni’s games, while giving him a big bear hug at the same time. I was also particularly impressed with the character Donna Elvira (Tracy Cantin), who continues to yearn for Giovanni after being emotionally trampled by him, brilliantly expressing the bizarre complications of human nature.
The opera ended as it should have, with punishment for sin followed by tender moments. With Timothy Vernon conducting the Victoria Symphony, the music was incredible. Set and costume designer Christine Poddubiuk made the entire stage shine with sharp and modern symbolism, including an ever-present apple tree, which is appropriate, as the entire plot revolves around temptation. The costumes are hip and colourful, often playing with gender fluidity and time periods.
I enjoyed this production of Don Giovanni as much, if not more, than the one I saw when I was five years old. I truly believe Wolfgang would have been proud.
Don Giovanni
7:30 pm Tuesday, April 26
$29 and up, Royal Theatre
pacificopera.ca