Washington National Opera Presents Don Giovanni at Kennedy Center Opera House
The Kennedy Center - Opera House (2700 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20566)
- Full Price:
- $110.00 - $225.00
- Our Price:
- $55.00 - $112.50*
* Additional fees apply.
All offers for Don Giovanni have expired.
The last date listed for Don Giovanni was Thursday October 25, 2007 / 7:00pm.
Most Popular Classical Event Nearby:
Beethoven's Eroica at Boston Symphony Hall
- Full Price:
- $38.00
- Our Price:
- $19.00
The Handel and Haydn Society continues its 2011-12 season with a program celebrating historical heroes. The showpiece of the night is Beethoven's groundbreaking Eroica symphony, conducted by Jean-Marie Zeitouni. Eroica means "heroic" and the piece was intended as a tribute to Napoleon Bonaparte. The work represents the beginning of a period of large scale, emotionally complex and technically rigorous works for the composer. The program also features Haydn's Symphony No. 48, nicknamed "Maria Theresia" after the Holy Roman Empress, another hero in keeping with the theme. The nickname fits the regal, dramatic piece perfectly. The evening will begin with a concert staple, Beethoven's Egmont overture, a musical portrayal of the battle between oppression and freedom. The hero in this piece is the title character, the Count of Egmont, who fought against the Spanish Inquisition in the Netherlands and died for it. Learn More
Goldstar Member Reviews
MattD
Fabulous. Breathtaking scenery. Worldclass performance by Erwin Schrott as Don Giovanni.Written on Oct 26 2007
- 0
- 0
- 0
anh vo
Costumes were extraordinary....Wonderful, sexy, and lusty performance.Written on Oct 29 2007
- 0
- 0
- 0
KS
Outstanding value to see an exciting performance at the opera. The singers were all very strong, and Erwin Schrott is a compelling Don Giovanni with a warm strong bass. The sets were just fine ... a little odd to see a Mozart opera re-set in Franco's Spain. Some of the costumes were bizarrely fetishistic and there were way too many guns shot off during the 3.5 hours of the opera. Poorly directed. Tempo was ponderous, robbing some of the energy from what I think of as usually some of the most exhilirating arias in opera. But, like I said, overall a wonderful evening out and well worth the price.Written on Oct 26 2007
- 0
- 0
- 0
Andreas
the opera was nice, but only really worthwhile because of the golstar events special offer.Written on Oct 26 2007
- 0
- 0
- 0
More Information About Don Giovanni
Description
Widely regarded as the greatest opera ever composed, Don Giovanni tells the story of the famous womanizer who is given one last chance to repent of his philandering ways. But when he adds murder and blasphemy to his lengthy list of sins, human and supernatural forces combine to enact a terrible punishment and avenge Donna Anna, Donna Elvira and thousands of other women.
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte
A new production; sung in Italian with English supertitles
With the extraordinary success of Le Nozze di Figaro—which was performed in Prague on January 17, 1787—behind him, Mozart returned to Vienna to begin work on an opera for the National Theatre’s fall season. He contacted librettist Lorenzo da Ponte, with whom he had worked on Le nozze, and together they poured through the text of Giovanni Bertati (Don Juan Tenori). The premise of a seductive libertine was not new in theater literature: Spain had its popular comedy El Burlador de Sevilla by Tirso de Molina (1630), France had its literary model with Molière (1665), and Italy had its interpretation of Goldoni (1735). Nevertheless, da Ponte used as his main source of inspiration Bertati’s Don Giovanni Tenori, though he introduced modifications in the writing and characterizations. Mozart brought the opera to Prague on October 1, 1787, but, as was typical for this composer, he wanted to finish polishing the score after hearing the chosen singers. Particularly for this opera, Mozart wanted to make sure that each voice adapted to the complex characterizations. Although the opening of Don Giovanni was slated for October 14, in honor of the Arch Duchess Maria Teresa, it was 15 days later before it actually reached the stage. Even Giacomo Casanova, a friend of Mozart’s and da Ponte’s, was said to be in the audience for the successful premiere. Months later, in May 1788, Mozart introduced Don Giovanni to audiences in Vienna.
About the Ticket Supplier: Washington National Opera
As the resident opera company of the Kennedy Center, Washington National Opera (WNO) draws on a rich history to offer high-quality grand opera featuring internationally acclaimed artists. Additionally, WNO serves as a vital resource throughout the Washington metro area, bringing opera to a broad public through its award-winning education and community programs.