h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Last night was an experience.

I went to see the ENO's new production of Don Giovani and left felling sick to the stomach. Awful. Simply awful. Tenor singing bass parts, tasteless wardrobe, blurring of social classes (class is imperative to the piece), weak vocals all round, a wayward orchestra and awful lighting.

I can now see what Shirley Maclean means when, in 'Steel Magnolias', she says:

'Why do I want to go to the theatre when I can sleep at home for free?'

I left after the first act and refound my Happy Place after a rather fine bottle of wine.

Dreadful (the opera, not the wine).

Don't go.

*Looks thoughtful*
Have you heard any of Russell Watsons songs?

No...

Tell me more

*grins and is happily amused to find someone who doesn't instantly groan as soon as she mentions Russell Watson*
And that was your first mistake

Basically he's a 27 year old singer from Manchester who started out singing in working mens clubs around Salford and is now the greatest British tenor I've ever heard. When he released his album 'The Voice' last year it went straight in at number 1 knocking Andrea Bocelli off the top place and then went straight into the pop charts too which I seem to recall made him the only classical artist ever to do that. Umm, he has a website with some soundbites at his name .com

*realises she sounds like walking advert*

Anyway, one of the things he does best is mix classical music with pop so he sings with artists such as Sean Ryder, Mel C and Lulu in order to bring opera to a younger and more diverse audience. He did a concert for BBC Music Live and we were discussing it last week and half the people said they loved it but half the people said he was trying too hard to modernise classical music and had ruined some great classics. I just wondered if maybe the same thing was being attempted with Don Giovani? See I've seen quite a few productions of Shakespearian classics recently and they've often attempted the same thing by mixing classes, merging roles and reversing gender identities. Whilst it made an entertaining production, quite a lot of the time it seemed to detract from the purpose of the initial roles and dialogue but it was pointed out that if the same play has been performed yearly for the past 100 years then something has to be done to refresh it and keep it evolving so that new audiences will still want to see it. Thus my other thoughts were was that the point behind Don Giavani? If others were hearing it for the first time then to them it may have been outstanding... just a thought though But listen to Russell Watson anyway, you might be impressed

Don Giovanni is one of three 'perfect' operas (along with 'Figaro' and 'Cosi fan tutti' and to hash any of these up is hard. The problem with this production is:

* The set: There was nothing to it, Giovanni is full of opportunities for scenery in any time period but this was just bare. This isn't necessarily a bad thing (Glyneborne's production of 'Figaro' is also a little stark, or was), but the performers were swallowed up in emptiness - it looked like a semi-staged production of a grander affair.

* The Orchestra: Giovanni is an amazing piece that needs tight control. The players were all over the place using inappropriate instruments at inappropriate moments - it was ludicrous.

* Interpretation: DOn Giovanni is working class, fine. this doesn't mean that he is a slob as he was portrayed here.

* Voices: The performers had the wrong voices for their parts.

* Plot: The plot was completely lost when, at the wedding banquet where he rapes the bride, the party get dressed up in clown outfits, and take to wheelchairs. We seemed to go from high drama to highcamp in the space of a bar.

I copuld go on, but as I say I left early - I simply couldn't take any more. I think that modernising opera ios fine, just don't treat your audience as imbeciles - it was like watching dumbed down TV.

However, I did go back to see the opening night of Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk - this was sublime evrything you need from a n opera: suffering peasants, great music, huge crowds, desperation and death - a perfect start to the weekend.

TRhis succeeded as much as Giovanni failed.

*doesn't go to see it*

Reminds me of a Midsummer Night's Dream I went to see, entirely in grey. Some of the audience may not have seen the play before... the 100 years thing doesn't wash because how many centenarians were paying attention to theatre when they were 1?

btw the latest picture on your personal space is scary, Ashley

I think it's rather groovy

Hello, Ashley!
I didn't take your advice, because I'd already bought tickets for both Don Giovanni and Lady Macbeth. As you said, Lady Macbeth was wonderful.

What annoyed me most about the Don Giovanni was a part you missed: at the end, instead of being dragged down to Hell, Don Giovanni just curled up gibbering on the stage, which was a real anti-climax. All through the final sextet, which is supposed to be a cheerful 'now life goes on' postscript, the others have tied him up and stab him in time to the music! This was so totally against the whole spirit of Mozart's music that it really made me fed up.

I see that you have edited my Castrati in Opera entry - thank you, you did a very nice job. And thank you for linking it to the History of Opera entry!
Regards,
Azara

The pleasureis all mine - it's a wonderful entry and needed very little work on it.

So, what is your next operatic experience to be? I'm off to Glyndebourne in August to see Figaro and Otello and then hopefully I'll be able to get some tickes for the Kirov at the ROH.

Thanks for the compliments - I was just checking the old Peer Review thread, and realised that I registered here on the 4th May, submitted the Castrati entry to Peer Review on the 5th May, and had it accepted on the 9th. That was great, because it reassured me that I had got the guide style and layout I was aiming for. (If you're wondering, I actually know Gnomon very well in real life, and I had a look at a few of his recommended entries to get an idea of what was suitable!)

I would have liked to have got tickets for the Kirov, but when I was planning my trip to London it seemed that a lot of performances were already sold out, which was why I went to London last weekend and to ENO instead. I am very limited by living near Dublin - there is very little opera put on here so I basically go to whatever is available.

I always go to the Wexford Festival at Halloween - it's always great fun and the selection of operas very unusual.

I have started a University Project on Great Opera Houses, so I hope that you will be able to comment on the entries in a couple of weeks when I have them ready.
Thanks again!

Azara