May 20, 2022
The information was prepared by Irbe Treile, Public Relations Manager of the Latvian National Opera and Ballet.
A new production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s opera “Don Juan” premiered at the Latvian National Opera on May 19. It was composed by musical director and conductor Andris Veismanis and Argentine director Marselo Lombardero. The creative team of the new production also included Argentine artists – set designer and video artist Diego Siliano, costume designer Lusiana Gutmane, lighting artist Horacio Efrons, as well as Latvian choreographer Linda Mīlā and video artist Uģis Ezerietis.
The title role in the new production is interpreted by the soloist of the Graz Opera Nevens Crničs and the soloist of the Latvian National Opera Rinalds Kandalincevs. In the other roles Jūlija Vasiljeva, Tatjana Trenogina, Inga Šļubovska-Kancēviča, Laura Greckas, Katrīna Paula Felsberga, Evija Martinsone, Mihails Čuļpajevs, Artjoms Safronovs, Rihards Mačanovskis, Juris Ādamsons, Rihards Millers
The opera “Don Juan” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and librettist Lorenzo da Ponte was first performed at the Count Nostica National Theater in Prague on October 29, 1787. The first performance of the Latvian National Opera “Don Juan” took place in 1921, the new performance is the fifth performance of this opera at the LNOB.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Don Juan” is, in my opinion, one of the best operas of the 18th century. So dramatic and comical at the same time. This time, it is a special pleasure that after the successful staging of Mozart’s “Figaro’s Wedding” at the Latvian National Opera in 2022, director Marselo Lombardero and his team from Argentina returned. “The performance of the libretto” Don Juan “takes place in Spain, the Spanish accent will be in this production as well – the events will take place in Buenos Aires.
In the hands of the creative team, the opera “Don Juan” has become an ironic and black comedy. Don Juan is guided by life, lust and women; although he has replaced romance with trophy hunting – the number of women won by Don Juan is in the thousands. Extreme means are also useful to achieve the goals – lies, deceptions and even murder, but in the end it turns out to be the way to hell.
“In our view, Don Juan is a comedy, as its genre name Dramma Giocoso makes clear. It gives us a new meaning in some of the features of this opera scene, including ironic and dark humor. He destroys everything, but he takes it by force, he destroys everything around him, he is a predator, a modern man, a harsh archetype of the modern man. “Today ‘s consumerism is dictated by the power of images, corporate news and social media, so we have used this concept as our guiding principle,” says director Marselo Lombardero.
The opera “Don Juan” will also be shown this season on May 21, 24 and 29, as well as on June 15 and 21 within the framework of the Riga Opera Festival.
Tickets can be purchased at the LNOB box office and online: https://www.opera.lv/lv/izrade/dons-zuans/
Additional information:
Irbe Treile
Public Relations Manager of the Latvian National Opera and Ballet
Phone: + 371 67073700
Mob. phone: + 371 25469588
E-pasts: [email protected]
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