This live 2011 recording of Don Giovanni by Opera Australia at the Sydney Opera House is notable for the bubbling energy and tight ensemble work of its cast. The singers' animation and high spirits are practically palpable, and judging from the enthusiastic laughter and spontaneous applause from the audience, their performance was immediately engaging. Comedy in opera is always tough to pull off, but the disciplined coordination of these performers seems to have given them the freedom to be genuinely relaxed and funny. Mark ...
Read More
This live 2011 recording of Don Giovanni by Opera Australia at the Sydney Opera House is notable for the bubbling energy and tight ensemble work of its cast. The singers' animation and high spirits are practically palpable, and judging from the enthusiastic laughter and spontaneous applause from the audience, their performance was immediately engaging. Comedy in opera is always tough to pull off, but the disciplined coordination of these performers seems to have given them the freedom to be genuinely relaxed and funny. Mark Wigglesworth leads the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra in an exceptionally lively reading of the score that's always dramatically apt; the sinister chill of the final encounter between the Don and the Commendatore sounds genuinely shocking after all the levity that has come before it. The cast doesn't dazzle with vocal brilliance; this is a good version of the opera for its energy and wit, but listeners who want the luster and polish of superstar performances may want to look...
Read Less
