Mozart: Don Giovanni, K527

This thrilling recording around concert performances at the Baden-Baden Festspielhaus is set to be a milestone in at least two ways:-

It marks the beginning of an extended Deutsche Grammophon collaboration with rising star Yannick Nézet-Séguin – the young French-Canadian maestro - “surely the most exciting talent of his generation” (Edward Seckerson, The Independent, January, 2011) who has already been celebrated from the Metropolitan Opera House New York to Royal Opera House Covent Garden, La Scala Milan and the Salzburg Festival.

It is the first of a new Deutsche Grammophon cycle of Mozart’s seven main operas in collaboration with Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Universal Music Arts & Entertainment, with the generous and kind support of Rolex and an enthusiastic advocate – Rolando Villazón - in love with Mozart!

A truly remarkable cast of world opera stars comes together for a breath-taking concert performance of Mozart’s Don Giovanni, with Mahler Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Yannick Nézet-Séguin.

No serious Opera Collection without Mozart’s Don Giovanni, one of most popular and often played operas, holding repertoire since its creation more than 200 years ago, no doubt because of its eternal and universal theme: (betrayed) love and death. This CD release brings the La Petite Bande/Sigiswald Kuijken recordings of Mozart operas to its completion: issued earlier were Cosi fan tutte, Le Nozze di Figaro and die Zauberflöte. Characteristic are the freshness, zest and brilliance in these performances on period instruments, with fresh young voices as soloists. Synopsis included, libretto available at www.briliantoperacollection.com

‘Nancy Argenta's Zerlina has charm and vitality… Huub Claessens makes a firmtoned and spirited Leporello. Markus Schafer's Ottavio is authoritatively sung, a model of style and phrasing. This is altogether a performance that you are sure to enjoy.’ Gramophone, April 1997 This punchy, live version of Mozart’s fireand- brimstone opera uses the Prague version of the score, now not so commonly encountered.

Kuijken recorded all three Mozart / Da Ponte operas, and cultivated a distinct style while doing so; by no means brisk and no-nonsense but full of loving instrumental detail, as one might expect from one of the great Baroque violinists of our age. His cast was young and fresh, keen always to make words tell in dialogue and repartee, but not underplaying the great dramatic climaxes such as the Commendatore’s implacable return to seize the egregious Don and drag him off to Hell.

Designer Carl Freidrich Oberle

Light design Nigel Levings

Don Giovanni, a libertine, a rake with a devil-may-care attitude, is portrayed magnificently by Teddy Tahu Rhodes in this Opera Australia production, where he first appears on stage in a costume where less is definitely more! Charismatic and sexy, Rhodes’ acting and singing are magnificent. His misused servant, Leporello, is played by Conal Coad, who skilfully promotes the opera’s comic elements whilst delivering a thumping bass full of drama.

The classic stage designs of Carl Friedrich Oberle form the backdrop to the drama of Don Giovanni’s last day on earth, before he is hurled in to Hell’s flames by the Commendatore, Daniel Sumegi, whose basso profundo is befittingly momentous.

Rachael Durkin (Donna Anna), Jacqueline Dark (Donna Elvira), Taryn Fiebig (Zerlina), Henry Choo (Don Ottavio) and Andrew Jones (Masetto) all deliver superlative singing as Mozart’s enthralling music flows from the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, adeptly guided by the baton of Mark Wigglesworth. A triumphant production from the director, Göran Järvefelt.

3CD+1CDR

Recorded live in 1956

Recorded in 1996

A new Don Giovanni is always an event, and despite the badly proofed booklet, this is no exception and it includes such rising stars as Chen Reiss along with established singers. such as last year's Glyndebourne Donna Anna, Anna Samuil.