An occasionally brilliant Don Giovanni at the Royal Danish Opera

By Kevin W Ng, 26 May 2014

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“this Don Giovanni recalls Attila the Hun more than any sort of elegant aristocrat”

Reviewed at The Opera House: Main Stage, Copenhagen on 25 May 2014

Mozart, Don Giovanni

Royal Danish Opera

Lars Ulrik Mortensen, Conductor

Aniara Amos, Director

Signe Beckmann, Costume Designer

Alex Eales, Set Designer

Inger Dam-Jensen, Donna Anna

Malin Hartelius, Donna Elvira

Lea Quortrup, Zerlina

Palle Knudsen, Don Giovanni

Henning von Schulman, Leporello

Peter Lodahl, Don Ottavio

Morten Lassenius Kramp, Masetto

Petri Lindroos, The Commendatore

Concerto Copenhagen

Royal Danish Opera Chorus

Britten’s The Turn of the Screw in Copenhagen

David Karlin, 6th October

Anthony Almeida and Rosanna Vize's deconstructed ghostly country house provides plenty of tension; fine vocal qualities are marred by poor intelligibility.

***11

The other Lulu: a Danish rarity in Copenhagen

Aksel Tollåli, 4th February

Dénise Beck shines as the Princess Sidi in the Royal Danish Opera's production of Friedrich Kuhlau's Lulu, receiving its first performances in 180 years.

***11

Carl Nielsen’s Maskarade: Love in the time of selfies

Aksel Tollåli, 18th April

Kasper Holten's production of Carl Nielsen's delightful comedy Maskarade delights in Copenhagen.

***11

The king is not well: Nielsen’s Saul og David

Aksel Tollåli, 17th April

The Royal Danish Opera's new production of Carl Nielsen's first opera Saul og David updates the action to the present-day Middle east and, while well-sung, comes off as overly simplistic.

**111

Send in the clowns: Stefan Herheim’s Lulu in Copenhagen

Aksel Tollåli, 20th November

Zombie clowns abound in Stefan Herheim's uncomfortably comical and upsetting Copenhagen production of Alban Berg's Lulu.

*****

Tito désabusé dans le spectacle de Jetske Mijnssen à Copenhague

Irma Foletti, 13th September

Une distribution vocale de très bon niveau, un orchestre en excellente forme, une mise en scène convaincante : la nouvelle production de l'opus mozartien à l'Opéra royal du Danemark est une réussite.

****1

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Kevin W Ng

Kevin writes about music and culture, with a focus on opera. Originally trained as a violinist, he has a particular interest in 20th-century music. He is currently based in New York City.