Behind the Scenes at Don Giovanni the Opera
A bold new production of Don Giovanni, which sees Mozart's greatest opera as never before, premieres at London's Heaven nightclub on Sunday 15th April. Anne-Marie Minhall talks to producer Richard Crichton to find out more about this unique opera...
In a completely new twist on Mozart's classic story, the arrogant and sexually promiscuous young nobleman Don Giovanni, played by Australian baritone Duncan Rock, leaps out of the closet as a debaucherous nightclub owner in the heady heydays of the eighties gay club scene in London.
The London night club is one of the main locations for the action in the opera which this time follows Don's pursuit and conquest of young men as well as the ladies, introducing a complete reversal of roles with the female roles transformed into males and males to female. Donna Anna becomes Alan, Donna Elvira becomes Eddie, and Zerlina becomes Zac, while Don Ottavio becomes Olivia and Masetto is Marina; demonstrating the harmonic genius of Mozart with all parts continuing to work brilliantly together.
Anne-Marie Minhall talks to producer Richard Crichton about the ideas behind the modern day Don Giovanni and the technical challenges the production team faced when transforming the soprano roles into tenors and the baritones to mezzos.
Listen to the interview in full here
The full opera opens at London's Heaven nightclub in April 2012 and will be followed by a further six shows in June for the 2012 World Pride.
Find out more at www.dongiovannitheopera.com.
