Don Giovanni - a seducer for the 21st century?

Mariame Clément directs a new production of Don Giovanni, Mozart’s darkest comedy for Festival 2023.

In a post-Me Too world can we still allow ourselves to fall under the spell of art's legendary seducer? Mariame Clément believes passionately in a work that she believes still has plenty to say to today's audiences, confident that she can find an approach that comprises neither the work itself nor her own feminist convictions.

Rising opera director Isabelle Kettle is less convinced, still struggling to find a way into a work whose music may be timeless but whose politics and morality seem increasingly like an uncomfortable anachronism.

In our new short film, the two of them join opera expert Alexandra Coghlan to talk about how a director can preserve the anarchic spirit and provocations of the piece, without betraying the values of a new age.

[marichristian]

I don't want to imagine how a feminist version of "Don Giovanni" would manifest itself. Put the opera into its proper historical context with costume, sets, for a start. And don't mess with perfection. After all, the Don gets the ultimate punishment.

[Beach_comber]

I was worried when they started talking about Me Too. The audience isn't interested in the director's social or political opinions and the opera shouldn't be a vehicle for them. But I think that Clement gets this. Having seen her other Glyndebourne productions, which were marvellous, I'm looking forward to this one.

[wotan]

I think many directors are misguided by focusing too much on the "drama, " and not enough on the "comedy." There is a lot of comedy in the opera.
But the idea I hate the most is when modern directors portray Anna as being complicit in the attempted rape. There is nothing in the libretto or music that suggests anything of the sort -- despite when she says to Ottavio, "I thought it was you." No, Anna does not secretly love Giovanni. Does 'Non mi dir' sound like the music of a liar?
It's just lazy directors who think they're being witty or uncovering some alternative facts.
I once read Domingo's memoirs, and he detested the character of Ottavio, and only sang him very early in his career. He thought Ottavio was shameful. Well, we now know how Domingo came to that conclusion! I always thought Ottavio was a noble character.

[Eudaimonia]

8:43 "Oh, but the score is so beautiful..."... errm, but let's criticise, feel uncomfortable about and try to steer away from the main character's controversial characteristics because we don't agree with Mozart's portrayal of toxic masculinity. In other words: let's pick and choose what we deem worthy or unworthy of being highlighted on the stage. When I hear puffed-up feminist nobodies bring their own socio-political agendas to bear, society needs to worry! Censorship is underway, my friends, it's no longer the exclusive domain of dictators!

[beverlywilcox]

Mozart did not write up DG's chat-up lines; Da Ponte did.

[hugobodiam]

More and more, one wants just to close ones eyes and enjoy Mozart.

[vicentgalvan]

People can't get uncounfortable anymore. Are they babies?

[onlygiovanniallthetime]

As a DG superfan, this woman gets it. im very excited