Don Giovanni at The Metropolitan Opera

My husband and I saw the composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera Don Giovanni at The Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Columbus Ave. at 64th St, New York City in December.

The opera synopsis can be read on The Met's web site here.

The very charasmatic and handsome Erwin Schrott stared as opera’s greatest lover, with an ensemble of both up-and-coming and veteran Met stars, including Tamar Iveri, Isabel Leonard, Matthew Polenzani, and Ildebrando d'Arcangelo.

Mr. Schrott was asked the following question in an interview about the opera, and his answer sums up the opera plot very vividly:

"Q:Mozart wrote the opera in the 1780s. Why does this character continue to interest us?

A: There are still plenty of Giovannis in the world! The opera is a psychological essay on infidelity, betrayal, and men always being on the verge of moral corruption. It's very contemporary, if you think of it in these terms!"

The Metropolitan Opera has an illustrious 125 year history, and costumes from past opera performances are on display on the various floors of the opera house. Here are a few examples and the operas they appeared in ( click the photo to enlarge to read the text)

and

This is a view from the upper tier atrium looking down at the grand staircase and The Grand Tier Restaurant.

The iconic floating chandeliers that look like stars which hang in the lobby and inside the auditorium.

A close up:

The Metropolitan stage from the Family Circle section --The lights have just been raised and the opera will begin soon.

The final curtain call bow of the Don Giovanni cast. Bravo!

Some opera extras:

Do you love opera, think you have the talent to be an opera singer, or know someone who hopes to be one? Watch this film clip of a new movie called "The Audition."

Information from the web site:

"Coming in spring 2009, The Audition, directed by award-winning filmmaker Susan Froemke, looks at the intense pressures young opera singers face as they struggle to succeed in one of the most difficult professions in the performing arts. The feature-length documentary takes you behind the scenes at the Metropolitan Opera's National Council Auditions, where each year thousands of hopefuls compete for a cash prize, the chance to sing on the Met stage–and the opportunity to launch a major operatic career."


If you'd like to view a short video of clips from various operas from the Metropolitan '08 and '09 season go here. I think you'll be amazed by both the quality of the performance and the pageantry of the staging!

Opera -- try it, you'll like it!