Mozart: Don Giovanni / Keenlyside, Beczala, Mei

Simon Keenlyside does a fine job as Don Giovanni. He has flawless technique as a singer and as an actor. Every note and every action is executed with clear intention. His "Deh, vieni alla finestra" is seductive and mesmerizing. My only criticism is that Keenlyside is too much of an ensemble player (in this regard, I respectfully disagree with the reviewer who praised him for this). His Giovanni is not a larger-than-life presence and is bit too casual in manner (the reviewer who invoked Sinatra's "rat pack' seemed spot-on to me). This Giovanni just doesn't dominate the opera and this is another reason why it lacks the sustained tension it should have. As Leporello, Anton Scharinger has a wonderfully deep baritone voice. It blends beautifully with Keenlyside's lighter baritone. Scharinger's acting is one of the highlights of the production. It's clear that at times he fancies himself to be the real Don! I was pleasantly surprised by Eva Mei as Donna Anna. I've never heard her sing with such power and flexibility. Her performance of the extremely difficult "Or sai chi l'onore" is stunning. Malin Hartelius does a fine job as Donna Elvira. She sings with great expressiveness and pathos. You can feel how she is simultaneously drawn to and repelled by Giovanni (as is Leporello...as are we). The Polish tenor Piotr Beczala is outstanding as Don Ottavio. It's nice to hear a baritonal tenor in this role for a change. He gives a full-bodied, yet moving rendition of "Dalla sua pace" and navigates the difficult runs and sustained notes of "Il mio tesoro" with great skill and beauty. The latter aria is a highlight of Act II. For a breathtaking four minutes, Beczala simply takes over the opera! Martina Jankova plays Zerlina with real spunk and has a lively soprano voice. As Masetto, Reinhard Mayr shows the requisite anger and jealousy. And Alfred Muff's bass makes your hair stand on end when, as the Commendatore, he takes center stage in Act II. In short, there's not a weak player in the cast.