Ensembles: Opera

MSU Opera Theatre and Chamber Orchestra presented Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Don Giovanni , Fall 2006

EAST LANSING, Mich. – This fall, the Opera Theatre and Chamber Orchestra presented Don Giovanni, sung in Italian with English surtitles. It was held on Friday, November 17 and Saturday, November 18 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, November 19 at 3 p.m. in MSU’s Concert Auditorium.

Left to right, Laura Nanes, David Steely, and Colleen Papa act out a scene in Mozart’s Don Giovanni

Directed by Melanie Helton and conducted by Raphael Jimenez, Don Giovanni was a celebration of the 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birth, featuring his music with a libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte. Of the many operas based on the tale of legendary lover Don Juan, Mozart’s is most highly regarded, says Helton, director of MSU Opera Theatre.

The story is very exciting and captures the attention of the audience in the first five minutes with a savage attack and a murder, says Helton. Later, the ghost of the victim returns to haunt the lead character, Giovanni, and attempts to take him to hell.

The most exciting moments in opera are not simply portrayed through action, but through music, as well, says Helton. She tells her students: “We sing because the emotion is too big for words.”

Opera, which literally means “work” in Italian, emerged in Italy around 1600. True to the word, opera singers are highly trained musicians. Their musical education includes vocal training,

Left to right, leading characters Laura Nanes, Robert Parks, and Corey Rivera act out a scene in Mozart’s Don Giovanni

sight reading, and ear training. They must also learn to sing in numerous languages, including Italian, French, German, and Chinese. Opera singers are the only vocalists who do not use microphones to amplify their voices, even when projecting over the sound of a full orchestra.

Helton said that this production, “really underline[d] what Mozart called this opera, drama giocoso, or a drama with jokes.”

A preview lecture was held 45 minutes before each of the performances, which was a great way to get further insight into the production

and story of Don Giovanni.