Hedonism and downfall: Don Giovanni in Belfast

By Judith Wiemers, 20 November 2016

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“The cruise ship... is a metaphor for the heady excesses of the upper class”

Reviewed at Belfast Grand Opera House, Belfast on 18 November 2016

Mozart, Don Giovanni

Northern Ireland Opera

Nicholas Chalmers, Conductor

Oliver Mears, Director

Annemarie Woods, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Hye-Youn Lee, Donna Anna

Rachel Kelly, Donna Elvira

Aoife Miskelly, Zerlina

Henk Neven, Don Giovanni

John Molloy, Leporello

Christopher Cull, Masetto

Clive Bayley, The Commendatore

Sam Furness, Don Ottavio

Ulster Orchestra

The Chorus of Northern Ireland Opera

NIO delivers an emotionally engaging Eugene Onegin in Belfast

Andrew Larkin, 14th September

Director Cameron Menzies offers a fresh perspective on Tchaikovsky's masterpiece Eugene Onegin in this Northern Ireland Opera production.

***11

The stars shine brightly in Northern Ireland Opera’s Tosca

Leighton Jones, 16th September

In NIO's annual opera production at the Belfast Grand Opera House, Cameron Menzies directs Puccini's Tosca.

****1

Brilliant leads make for a moving Traviata at Northern Ireland Opera

Andrew Larkin, 10th September

Cameron Menzies sets Verdi's timeless opera in a timeless world, with a mixture of styles indicating that all is not as it seems.

****1

Northern Ireland Opera’s Fledermaus flies high and low

Leighton Jones, 15th September

Stripping away all the decadence of late-19th century Vienna, Walter Sutcliffe gives Johann Strauss’ operetta an overhaul.

***11

A gripping, dark, moving Rigoletto from NIO

Leighton Jones, 30th September

Since their creation in 2010, NIO has brought unconventional opera productions to Northern Ireland. Their Rigoletto is bold, emotional and engaging with a stellar cast of local and international talent.

****1

Calixto Bieito's Turandot in Belfast

Philip Hammond, 30th October

Can classic opera reflect the political status of the society in which it is performed? Calixto Bieito's production of Turandot for Northern Ireland Opera raises some uncomfortable questions.

***11

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Judith Wiemers

A graduate of Universität zu Köln, Judith is currently undertaking a Phd in Music at Queen’s University Belfast, where she investigates German film musicals from the 1930s. She is passionate about opera, choral singing and Irish fiddle music, and thoroughly enjoys writing about all aspects of music.

Hedonism and downfall in Oliver Mears' farewell production at Northern Ireland Opera