Don Giovanni

Image courtesy of Barcex

English National Opera, London Coliseum

(Autumn 2004)

Oh Dear: what have we here?  Don Giovanni is driven on stage in a
clapped-out Ford Consul (or something – not good on cars, TVC will use Pam
Ayres’ phrase) and out spills Donna Anna and Don Giovanni, covering up their
junk.  And downhill from there.  This Calixto Bieto production was touted as
“Mozart meets Reservoir Dogs” .  It was more a case of ‘Salieri meets The
Panic in Needle Park meets Cruising’.  David Parry conducted.  Eventually,
some of the good bits floated back into our cerebral cortex, helped by wine
chugged at the half.  By the time the Don was sent down, we regretted the
absence of the car (to speed him on his way).