Comments on: Review: Palm Beach Opera’s ‘Don Giovanni’ a bold risk-taker

By: Jim Jones

Jim Jones — Thu, 20 May 2010 18:06:29 +0000

Obviously, ur review is correct about this performance. “Dr.” Prill is a paid chourus member- the quotation marks around ‘Dr.’ is that he has had no certifications/license to practice dentistry for more than 20+ years. He uses the ‘Dr.’ to intimidate others in his postings.

By: stanley pierce

stanley pierce — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:22:07 +0000

You really have to work at it, to make don giovanni boring–but they managed well. This is one of the worst interpretations i’ve seen–and the folks i was with, totally agreed…..from costuming to scenery to movement and stage presence, thumbs down..

By: Esteban

Esteban — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:11:07 +0000

It seems that the whole stagging went too far… from stage design to interpreters’ directions… I guess nothing like the original masterpiece.
It seems that constumes made life miserable to several of the performers. Some of the light effects were great, while others appeared very odd (like the “endless lighning”). Talking about effects, the smoke smell (candles and incense) was probably too strong in the first act, but it is not just a matter of opinion that smoke effect of the last scene made a horrible noise… Acting directions we probably way too unconventional, but they probably went also too far when having singers position in such odd places. I guess the lack of the statue was the least of the problems (I actually think thought it was a reasonably clever “modern” touch).

When so many chances are taken, and so many additional challenges are created, (and all your costume and stage is somewhere in Valencia), it is almost impossible to excell.
“This most unusual Don Giovanni was perhaps more of a failure than a success”, but it was probably “a risk that was well worth taking”. Let’s hope next time results are better.

By: Laurie Orlov

Laurie Orlov — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:10:01 +0000

We walked out in disgust at intermission, so managed not to see the missing stone guest. But I was there long enough to notice the complete disregard for the libretto stage directions in Act I (wine, food, on stage orchestra, minuets, table.)

Worse, the staging had a Bergman-like gloom that had was not connected to the charm of both the music and the original plot. The singers appeared to hate performing in it — based on their overall stiffness, and general inability to move in their costumes. Their distaste, however, could not compare to the distasteful experience of watching an egotistical ‘Interpretation of Don Giovanni’ when buying tickets and sitting down thinking we’d see at least an attempt to reproduce the masterpiece itself.

By: Dr Mark Prill

Dr Mark Prill — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 02:48:27 +0000

The women of the chorus never sang with their backs to the audience. They turned to the audience and sang after standing onstage with their backs to the audience until it was time to sing. As a “reviewer”, or should I say “critic” (because you tend to be critical most of the time) how can anyone glean any knowledge from you if you are inaccurate?

By: Marcia

Marcia — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 02:32:11 +0000

This version may have been stylized, but was not satisfying. It reminded me in part of Greek tragedy (static speechifying) and, in part, of concert versions of opera ie. people standing around singing. A man next to me said “if this was my introduction to opera, i wouldn’t come back!!”

I was privileged to see Caesare Sieppi many years ago in a production at the Met. I also saw a unique interpretation of DG on Television with twin basses playing the Don and his servant. Both were far better than this version.