Don Giovanni
Tartu Vanemuine Theatre on Tour in Klaipėda
Opera in Two Acts
Composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart created the opera Don Giovanni based on Tirso de Molina’s play The Trickster of Seville and the Stone Guest (1630), using its plot and central character, Don Juan. While the premiere at Prague’s National Theatre in 1787 received enthusiastic applause, the work remained something of a mystery to Viennese audiences of the 18th century. Nevertheless, within just a few decades, this opera came to be regarded as one of the greatest and most significant in history.
The libertine and seducer Don Giovanni and his loyal servant Leporello travel the world, leaving behind countless broken hearts. But not all women will tolerate this—Donna Anna, Donna Elvira, and Zerlina decide to expose the true nature of the scoundrel. It turns out Don Giovanni’s adventures are not eternal. Although in this centuries-old story swords have been replaced by smartphones, the trickster must ultimately answer for his deeds.
The production is directed by renowned Estonian director Elmo Nüganen. This is his first collaboration with Vanemuine Theatre, though not with W. A. Mozart—he previously staged The Marriage of Figaro in 1994 in cooperation with Pärnu Opera.
The premiere took place on November 27, 2021, at the Small House of the Vanemuine Theatre.
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Librettist: Lorenzo Da Ponte
Music Director and Conductor: Risto Joost (Estonia)
Director: Elmo Nüganen (Estonia)
Set Designer and Video Artist: Katrīna Neiburga (Latvia)
Costume Designer: Kristīne Pasternaka (Latvia)
Lighting Designer: Kristjan Suits (Estonia)
Choreographer: Rauno Zubko (Estonia)
Chorus Master: Kristi Jagodin (Estonia)
Cast:
Don Giovanni – Jānis Apeinis (Latvian National Opera)
Leporello – Kristjan Häggblom
Masetto – Simo Breede
Don Ottavio – Juhan Tralla
Donna Elvira – Annabel Soode
Donna Anna – Pirjo Jonas
Zerlina – Maria Listra
Constanze – Saara Nüganen (Endla Theatre)
