Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Don Giovanni,” one of the most widely produced operas, will be presented by the Hillman Memorial Music Association, in collaboration with the State University of New York at Fredonia’s School of Music and Department of Theatre and Dance, at the Robert W. Marvel Theatre on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 9, 10 and 11.
Originally set in 18th century Spain, “Don Giovanni” is based on the legendary womanizer, Don Juan, who goes too far and finds himself tangled in his own web of lies and deception. Accompanied by his earthy sidekick, Leporello, Giovanni goes through a series of encounters that begins with a fatal duel and then alternates between the humorous and the sentimental, and ends with the protagonist being dragged down to hell.
It has endured for over two centuries for a variety of reasons, says Producer Robert Strauss of the Fredonia School of Music.
“Mozart, as a composer, was so good at characterization. He really knew how to get at the core of characters, to build strong, independent and interesting people in ways that we can relate to today,” Dr. Strauss explained.
“These characters are not specific to what was going on 200 years ago; they have characteristics, feelings, emotions and experiences that we feel in our lives,” said Strauss, who is intimately familiar with “Don Giovanni,” having been engaged in more than 12 productions of it, either as a singer, director or audience member.
“The three women that he interacts with all speak up; they seek a resolution or healing from their experiences and ultimately, Don Giovanni gets dragged down at the end,” Strauss said.
“It’s such a great story – and very contemporary in a way – that these women come forward and demand justice, with support from the men in their lives who believe them, for what they went through,” Strauss continued. “And ultimately, as a result, there are repercussions, and he does receive justice or punishment for his actions.”
The city of Seville, which may have inspired Mozart’s setting for the opera, was famous in Mozart’s time as a mythical world of winding streets, hot-blooded young men and exotically beautiful women.
Performances of “Don Giovanni” will be presented on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 for the general public and $10 for students and children and are available at the Fredonia Ticket Office in the Williams Center or online. For more event details, please click.
Presented in two acts, the Fredonia production showcases a cast of talented performers enrolled in the School of Music and Department of Theatre and Dance, along with a crew of skilled technicians from Theatre and Dance. It will be presented in Italian, with English supertitles.
“Don Giovanni” is the first Hillman Opera produced by Strauss, who succeeds longtime Hillman producer Julie Newell.
Stage direction is by Ted Sharon. Dr. David Rudge is music director of the production, and will also lead members of the College Symphony Orchestra during the performances as conductor. The Fredonia Opera Chorus is under the direction of Peter Blanford, a choral graduate student. Choreography is by Janie Sharon.
“The set and the costumes are going to be very striking,” Strauss said. “Our production will be more contemporary in terms of time period, and highlight the realism of the story, while still maintaining a high degree of respect for the work itself. Ted’s vision is very gritty and dark. It’s really going to be quite the gripping telling of this story.”
Lead performers, with their respective role, major and hometown, include: Brandon Mecklenburg, as Don Giovanni, Vocal Performance, Hamburg (above, at right); Amie Adams, as Donna Anna, Vocal Performance, junior (above, at left), Jamestown; Katherine Culver Joslyn, as Zerlina, Music Education, junior, New Hartford; Nicholas Anthony Farrauto, as Don Ottavio, Vocal Performance, Dix Hills; Nicholas Williams, as Leporello, Theatre Arts and Music, senior, Remsen; Nicole Brendel, as Donna Elvira, graduate student, Vocal Performance, West Seneca; Nectarios Papadopoulos, as Masetto, Music Education, senior, Plainview, N.Y.; and Jacob Badding, as Commendatore, who earned a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from Fredonia earlier this year. Mr. Badding also appeared in the Hillman Opera production of “The Merry Widow” in 2015.
The ensemble cast consists of 16 students whose roles include peasants and servants. Another six students have major duties in technical aspects of the production that include stage management, production, costumes, lighting and electricity. More than 100 people are involved in bringing this production of “Don Giovanni” to the stage.
“Don Giovanni” is sponsored by Gugino & Ryel Financial as part of the Lake Shore Savings Season. The production also received support from the Oliver G. and Sarah Sloan Bauman Fund for the Arts of the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo.
