MOZART's Don Giovanni – Opera in Concert

Opera was MOZART's greatest art form, and many would call Don Giovanni his masterpiece. Following the massive success of The Marriage of Figaro in Prague, MOZART created this new work for the city. Deeply inspired, he wrote at speed, composing a lavish opera for three sopranos, three baritones, a tenor, and a bass, each with a distinct vocal personality. MOZART, a legend among legends, even wrote the overture the night before the premiere. Don Giovanni, also known as Don Juan, is the legendary Spanish philanderer who became a fixture of Romantic literature, surfacing even in The Phantom of the Opera . But MOZART's long-time collaborator Lorenzo DA PONTE did not cast him as a seductive hero. Instead, the libretto uses opera buffa to present his blunders, miscalculations, and damnation. Though the plot turns on an accidental killing and a vengeful ghost, the opera stays full of humor, and its beautiful arias and ensembles build to an opulent, exhilarating vocal feast. Just as impressive as the singing is MOZART's psychological insight. At first glance, Donna Anna seems reserved and unwilling to face herself, Donna Elvira obsessed to the point of madness, and the village girl Zerlina merely fickle. Look closer, though, and Anna reveals an indescribable complexity, Elvira an unacknowledged loneliness. MOZART caught these ambiguous, hidden feelings and rendered them fully in music. As for Don Giovanni — who dominates the stage and shapes every other character — he sings only a few minutes of solo music across the three-hour drama. The composer's meaning is unmistakable, a mark of his impeccable dramatic instinct. Don Giovanni is charged and vocally intricate. However familiar it may be, each performance remains a real test for conductor and singers, and its depth invites a wide range of interpretations. Weiwuying has assembled a top Taiwanese cast, including CHEN Han-wei, HSIEH Ming-mou, HSIAO Han, Claude LIN, KENG Li, HU Ting-wei, LIAO Yu-meng and LIANG You-jhong. With narration by Ethan WEI bringing the story together, the concert promises a relaxed, refreshing experience. (Written by CHIAO Yuan-pu) Pre-talk 2027/2/19(Fri)19:00 Concert Hall 3F Lobby