Don Giovanni ventures beyond the footlights in Prague

By Mark Pullinger, 25 April 2021

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“the Don knows it’s his final day on earth and he intends to live it to the full”

Reviewed at Estates Theatre (Stavovské divadlo), Prague on 24 April 2021

Mozart, Don Giovanni

Prague National Theatre Opera

Karsten Januschke, Conductor

Alexander Mørk-Eidem, Director

Christian Friedländer, Set Designer

Jenny Ljungberg, Costume Designer

Pavol Kubáň, Don Giovanni

Miloš Horák, Leporello

Jana Sibera, Donna Anna

Alžběta Poláčková, Donna Elvira

Lenka Máčiková, Zerlina

Zdeněk Plech, The Commendatore

Richard Samek, Don Ottavio

Lukáš Bařák, Masetto

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A vintage opera at the National Theatre offers charming adventures for children and musical sophistication for adults.

*****

Parsifal reconsidered: A provocative improvisation in Prague

Frank Kuznik, 26th March

Timo Riihonen and Ester Pavlů stand out in a strong cast which carries Andreas Homoki's revised version of Wagner's final opera.

****1

Musically excellent Bartered Bride in Prague marred by meta production

Dominic Lowe, 4th March

Smetana in Prague is never likely to be less than a delight, and the National Theatre assembles a fine cast for a revival of Alice Nellis' production of his greatest opera.

****1

In Prague, a high-minded new Rheingold never gets off the ground

Frank Kuznik, 12th February

Sláva Daubnerová's contemporary treatment of the Ring opener at the Prague National Theatre is socially ambitious but artistically disappointing.

***11

Dido and Aeneas in Prague: wide-eyed wonderment

David Karlin, 15th January

Alice Nellis' staging of Purcell's masterpiece is both historically faithful and innovatively modern. With Collegium 1704 providing the early music chops, it's a rare treat.

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Revival of Ostrčil’s The Legend of Erin misses the mark in Prague

Frank Kuznik, 16th October

An ambitious effort to honor hometown hero Otakar Ostrčil sags under its own weight at the Prague National Theatre.

***11

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Mark Pullinger

Mark has been a Bachtrack editor since 2014. He is also an experienced critic, writing hundreds of reviews for the site, as well as a freelancer writing for other magazines and newspapers. He also writes programme notes and blogs on Substack. Mark has a particular passion for the operas of Verdi as well as Russian and French repertoire. Outside the concert hall and opera house, Mark enjoys cooking and travel and is probably at his happiest let loose in a French patisserie or a Viennese coffee house.

Don Giovanni ventures beyond the footlights at the Estates Theatre in Prague