Ivo van Hove's bleak, effective Don Giovanni arrives at the Met

Peter Mattei (Don Giovanni) and Adam Plachetka (Leporello)

Federica Lombardi (Donna Anna) and Ben Bliss (Don Ottavio)

Ana María Martínez, Federica Lombardi, Peter Mattei, Ben Bliss, Alfred Walker and Ying Fang

Ana María Martínez (Donna Elvira) and Adam plachetka (Leporello)

Peter Mattei (Don Giovanni) and Federica Lombardi (Donna Anna)

By Robert Levine, 12 May 2023

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“if there is a finer Don Giovanni than Peter Mattei, I haven’t heard him”

Reviewed at Lincoln Center: Metropolitan Opera House, New York City on 9 May 2023

Mozart, Don Giovanni

Metropolitan Opera

Nathalie Stutzmann, Conductor

Ivo van Hove, Director

Jan Versweyveld, Set Designer, Lighting Designer

An D'Huys, Costume Designer

The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra

The Metropolitan Opera Chorus

Christopher Ash, Projection designer

Peter Mattei, Don Giovanni

Adam Plachetka, Leporello

Federica Lombardi, Donna Anna

Ana María Martínez, Donna Elvira

Ying Fang, Zerlina

Alexander Tsymbalyuk, The Commendatore

Ben Bliss, Don Ottavio

Alfred Walker, Masetto

Sara Erde, Choreography

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The Lithuanian soprano’s riveting performance as the central character in Tchaikovsky’s operatic masterpiece lights up Deborah Warner’s mostly bland production.

****1

Innocence: Saariaho’s final opera receives New York premiere

Kurt Gottschalk, 6th April

At the Metropolitan Opera, Innocence proves a gripping and perhaps divisive piece which feels real because it is a reflection of our reality, with no realistic hope of finding peace.

*****

Tristan und Isolde at the Met: staging gets in the way of the music

No’a L. bat Miri, 9th March

Michael Spyres shines in his debut as Tristan alongside powerhouse soprano Lise Davidsen as Isolde in Yuval Sharon's new, beguiling production at the Metropolitan Opera.

***11

Ailyn Pérez is the perfect Butterfly in the Met’s revival

Robert Levine, 13th January

Good Butterflys are not that difficult to come by but great ones are very very rare. Ailyn Pérez fits the bill in this revival of Anthony Minghella’s classic staging.

*****

Vocal thrills in Met’s traditional staging of Bellini’s I puritani

Susan Stempleski, 31st December

Marco Armiliato conducts a finely balanced rendition of Bellini's final masterpiece with a stellar cast headed by Lisette Oropesa and Lawrence Brownlee.

*****

Porgy and Bess returns stronger than ever at the Met

Robert Levine, 7th December

Back to Catfish Row for another revival of The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess and James Robinson’s show continue to wow our writer.

*****

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Robert Levine

Robert T. Levine is a New York born-and-bred music writer with a particular interest in music for the voice. His work has appeared in many periodicals and newspapers. He is the author of many books, including The Story of the Orchestra, four volumes in the Black Dog & Leventhal Opera Library, and, most recently, Maria Callas: A Musical Biography.