Some of opera's most warmly regarded and awarded singers have arrived from around New Zealand and the world, as rehearsals pick up pace for the Auckland and Wellington seasons of Don Giovanni
Don Giovanni by Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart NZ Opera
Aotea Centre, Auckland
September 18-28
St James Theatre, Wellington
October 11-18
Director Sara Brodie’s up-to-the-minute production sets the wit and wonder of Mozart’s opera against the intense colours and street scenes of morn day Spain Fresh from success in last week’s Australian Helpmann Awards, where he took Best Male Performer in a Supporting Role, much-loved virtuoso singing actor Warwick Fyfe is cast as Leporello, the much put upon servant to the Don. Fyfe previously appeared with NZ Opera in Rigoletto, The Italian Girl in Algiers, and Pagliacci.
Fellow cast member, New Zealander Jud Arthur, describes the baritone as “laconic with a dry sense of humour” and Warwick admits to the inadvertent surfacing of Benny Hill in some of his memorable characterisations.
“My predilection for scary films means there are plenty of nasties swimming about in my subconscious which surface of their own accord when required,” he told the Classic Melbourne website. When this new NZ Opera production of Don Giovanni debuted last year in Christchurch, ending an opera drought in the city, English baritone Mark Stone sang the title role, which he now reprises for the Auckland and Wellington premieres. Radio New Zealand’s Upbeat reviewer, Francis Yapp, found himself admiring and loathing the character thanks to the believable performance by Mark Stone – “very much an actor as well as a singer with a wonderful baritone voice.”
From Wellington, Australian-born soprano Lisa Harper-Brown joins the cast as the aggrieved woman whose father is murdered, sparking the destiny of doom for Don Giovanni. Jud Arthur, a former Otago rugby rep and now professional opera bass, comes home to play Donna Anna’s father, the sonorous Commendatore, for whom death is no barrier to revenge.
Other well-known and established or rising home-grown principals are Anna Leese, Amelia Berry and Robert Tucker. “Here for a good time, not for a long time” is an appropriate slogan for Don Giovanni – the man you’ll love to hate in this most entertaining of operas. “It’s a film approach in a way and it would go down anywhere in the world,” reviewer Francis Yapp commented. “The future of opera in New Zealand is very healthy, judging from this production.”
Members of the Chapman Tripp Opera Chorus in each city populate the square in front of the Hotel Ottavio. The opera will be accompanied by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and Orchestra Wellington.
