![\"Don](\"http:\/\/www.musicalamerica.com\/mablogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/kimmigDonGiovanni2.jpg\")
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By ANDREW POWELL MUNICH \u2014 \u00c1d\u00e1m Fischer<\/a> keenly propelled a revival here last night (May 3) of Stephan Kimmig\u2019s 3\u00bd-year-old, shipping-container staging of Don Giovanni<\/em> for Bavarian State Opera<\/a>. Predictably the music fared better than the dramma<\/em>.<\/p>\n Hanna-Elisabeth M\u00fcller<\/a> brought an evenly produced, warmly intoned Zerlina. After a tenuous start coping with leaps, Annette Dasch<\/a>\u2019s voice settled pleasingly into the trials and tribulations of Donna Elvira. All those Elsas have not hurt her Mozart. William Burden<\/a>\u2019s Ottavio suffered from poor legato and some clunky phrasing, but the tenor\u2019s golden timbre compensated.<\/p>\n Three principals reprised their roles after a short, brilliant run two years ago under Constantinos Carydis. Erin Wall<\/a>\u2019s top-heavy Donna Anna shimmered attractively in the highest reaches. She properly gauged her part in ensembles and added luster to both finales. Animated to the Nth degree, Alex Esposito<\/a> appeared to relish his turn as a Stanley Tucci-like Leporello. His lyric bass made up in focused sound for\u00a0what it lacked in size. Gerald Finley<\/a> sang a suave burlador<\/em> and comically aped Esposito\u2019s theatrical excesses. Twenty years into his career, Finley\u2019s voice retains agility and plush tones, and yesterday the clarity of his Italian was unmatched. The pairing with M\u00fcller resulted in a truly seductive L\u00e0 ci darem la mano<\/em>.<\/p>\n Tareq Nazmi<\/a> and Stefan Koc\u00e1n<\/a> took the supporting roles of Masetto and the Commendatore, Nazmi with dramatic flair, Koc\u00e1n with welcome resonance.<\/p>\n Rough playing marred the overture, as did the immediate distraction of the curtain going up. Still, Fischer secured a generally fine effort from the orchestra at brisk tempos. The finales cohered brilliantly.<\/p>\n Moved up and away from 17th-century Spain, where social strata empower Don Giovanni and restrict his victims, Kimmig\u2019s action unfolds without policed context amid present-day cargo. Here the anti-hero incredibly gets his way using money and wits alone, when any one of the hardened locals \u2014 the ladies not excepted \u2014 might easily beat the powder-snorting crap out of him. Dark freight containers tirelessly twirl and slide, their doors and panels opening to reveal ugly, cramped mini-sets.<\/p>\n Photo \u00a9 Bayerische Staatsoper<\/p>\n Related posts:
\nPublished: May 4, 2013<\/span><\/p>\n
\nFestive Sides<\/a>
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\nPetrenko\u2019s Sharper Boris<\/a>
\nPetrenko\u2019s Rosenkavalier<\/a>
\nManon, Let\u2019s Go<\/a><\/p>\n