Mikhail Agrest makes his debut at Opera Australia
conducting a daring new production of Mozart's Don Giovanni at the Sydney Opera House |
Mozart's Don Giovanni has been described as a perfect opera, but people rarely agree on how to interpret the troubling central character. Giovanni (also know as Don Juan or Don John in the countless retellings of the story) is a notorious womaniser who, with the help of his sidekick Leporello, rampages through Europe taking his pleasure wherever he goes.
In the words of director Elke Neidhardt: "Mozart's opera depicts the last day in the life of an amoral man of wealth. He is single-mindedly in pursuit of women. He never sleeps, is fearless, a notorious liar and a non-believer. He is irresistible to women and a constant threat to the status quo of the bourgeoisie."
Mikhail Agrest describes his experience of working on this new production of Don Giovanni:
"The difficulty and beauty of Mozart's Don Giovanni lies in its universal appeal. Don Giovanni leaves no one indifferent, whether they are moved to jealousy, envy or admiration. We love to hate him and hate to love him.
The story of Don Giovanni has drawn so many great minds to write on the subject, that through the 19th Century the legend acquired a certain heaviness with each new attempt to find a deeper philosophical meaning. One has to remember however that when Mozart wrote his opera in 1787, he entered it in his catalogue as an 'opera buffa', and was criticized for his choice of subject matter, which, in the mid 18th Century, was considered appropriate material for a circus piece or pantomime. So without belittling the work of ETA Hoffmann or any of the great Romantic writers, what is important here is Mozart and his librettist Da Ponte.
Of course Don Giovanni is not a trivial subject, so the challenge lies in finding the balance between serious and the comedic elements of the opera. This balance is what gives the opera direction and excitement. Have too much emphasis on one over the other, and you are missing the point. Working on this opera has been a double blessing for me. Not only did we have a great young cast and energetic creative team, but thinking about the balance of seria and buffo actually made me re-evaluate my attitude to music making and life in general."
Reviews
" The conductor, Mikhail Agrest, had a fine feel for telling tempos at crucial moments and brought sophisticated shape to phrases..."
Sydney Morning Herald
"... the orchestral playing under the direction of Mikhail Agrest was largely stylish and alert."
The Australian
"...its musical values are exceedingly high. Russian maestro Mikhail Agrest leads a tense and fast-paced performance, highlighting the fervour and turmoil of the score without denying its lyricism."
The Opera Critic
"Mikhail Agrest, making his Opera Australia debut, conducts with skill and sensitivity."
North Shore Times
"Mikhail Agrest maintains a light and lively pace and the Opera Australia chorus provides outstanding support."
Manly Daily
"Mikhail Agrest conducts the Australian Opera & Ballet Orchestra with vivacity, and produces a reading that is both lyrical and powerful, as the score requires."
Eastside Radio
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