Don Giovanni [Blu-ray]

A MIXED BAG WITH SOME REAL PLUSES & MINUSES
This is not going to be a easy review. This new DON GIOVANNI has many real strengths and weaknesses and often in the same performer. This is going to take some very detailed analyse. The Blu-ray production also has some issues and inconsistencies.
1) The sound is a mixed bag. Orchestra sound and clarity is excellent; however, vocal sound changes from character to character and starts muddled and improves as the First Act progresses. The Don himself has the worst sound field i.e. cavernous and many times without focus. Some of the problem is his own vocal production. More on this later.
2) The sound from the pit is excellent with Mark Wigglesworth conducting a magnificent account of this wonderful score. Tempi and balances are ideal; and all rhythmns are ideally articulated. Try the overture's opening chords; many conductors don't get this right... Weighty yet distinct and clear. Wigglesworth is a great Mozartian!
3) Opera Australia seems to take the rehearsal...

College level performance
I chose this disc based on the favorable reviews I read. I'm sorry to say that I was very disappointed on several levels. The vocal performances were mediocre at best. The set design didn't work very well and the camera work was amateurish and only highlighted the limitations of the performers. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone familiar with the opera or looking for quality vocal performances.

If viagra could sing it would sound like Teddy Tahu Rhodes
Don Giovanni is one of those operas I have almost every video performance issued, simply because I haven't found any that I truly like. The search stops with this blu-ray. The reason is Teddy Tahu Rhodes. I have no interest in this production or in any of the singers except for him. What is it about him? Does he sing the Don better than anyone else? I don't know, I can't even analyze it in musical terms. It's that voice (it's not just his good looks). If viagra could sing it would sound like him. Opera Australia have a star here and a gold mine they would be foolish not to make full use of. I am buying anything with the name Teddy Tahu Rhodes on it. I got the Opera Australia Marriage of Figaro only for him and did not regret it. They should hurry up and create a production of Boito's Mefistofele especially for him - he is a godsent devil.

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