Don Giovanni:The British Way

The English National Opera’s rendition of “Don Giovanni” completely surpassed my already high expectations. Initially, while waiting, I counted the white heads and felt like I was a child but whilst sitting next to two elderly couples, I was privileged to hear their reminiscing about V-E day and their excursions to Petra. As a new opera fan, I expected to see at the English National Opera what I saw at the Royal Opera house. I was naïve to think this and was corrected when the curtain drew to reveal a man in what seemed to be a bathrobe and a gang of his servant who wore shirt with Jesus and the crown of thorns. These servants produced a woman from off stage and though she struggled, Don Giovanni still raped her with all the ease of experience in which we are assured he has.
Aside from this, the opera was in English and translated such that colloquial language was used such as ‘bloody and arse’ and different accents were employed including Scottish. The English National Opera has gotten bad press for showing scenes such as this, where some feel that since the opera only implied rape, it is taking things too far to show it on stage. The response to such remarks has been that "Don Giovanni is a shocking opera about a man who treats a woman in a disgusting fashion," said Oliver Condy, editor of BBC Music. "There is no point shying away from it and giving the audience a sanitized version.” Many feel that the ENO has fallen to sensationalism to attract a younger crowd but , as one of the few young audience members, I feel that the ENO is simply updating and experimenting. I was laughing so much and engaged. Isn’t that what performance want?
The set was impressive, in its use of back-to-back construction, and no wonder since it was the work of set designer Ian MacNeil who has won numerous awards, including two Evening Standard Awards (one for Festen), two Oliviers (one for ENO's Ariodante) and a Tony (for Billy Elliot: The Musical).Costumes were modern and stylistic, with the gang of Jesus shirts one end, and general casual but retro clothing on the other end including a dapper velvet coat. One key moment for me occurred, after the group pursuing Don Giovanni to murder him, find Leporello in his master’s clothes, and Donna Anna cries out on distress and starts step dancing manically and collapses. In my opinion the general portrayal of Don Giovanni as casual but determined rapist, murdering foul bastard was the correct one and bred significant comedic sequences. Iain Paterson was brilliant as Don Giovanni and all I wanted to do was see it again.


Heather Purchase