Don Giovanni, Wednesday, July 18th 2012, Arena di Verona. One of the Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart`s famous operas, "Don Giovanni" is his only creation that made its way this summer to the Verona Opera Festival.

The main character, Don Giovanni, was interpreted by Erwin Schrott. A performance exactly the way the role demands it: arrogant young man, with a Don Juan forbearance, winning the ladies hearts - the proof is their loud applause at the end - and with a strong, far-reaching voice. This is an important aspect, especially given that the large spaces where the Festival hosted by the Arena of Verona takes place are a harsh test for the interpreters, with no regard of the role.

However, although Erwin Schrott was impeccable, the most appreciated by the public was Bruno di Simeone playing Leporello, "the accountant" of Don Giovanni`s adventures. Conclusion reached on the basis of the applause, of course. :-) Comical and likeable, seeming to exploit the qualities of his... baldness, Bruno di Simeone made himself loved by the public through the well uttered lines, but also through his voice.

Donna Anna, alias Anna Samuil - name which seems destined for this role, Donna Elvira, alias Evira... no, alias Maria Agresta :-), and Zerlina, Geraldine Chauvet in the role, did their job well, with roles that didn`t allow them to shine more.

The scenery, too, was dreamlike, making the spectators feel at the big balls held in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart`s times. A stone-like structure, with arcades, columns and statue-shaped columns, meant as a huge castle entrance, and the rest of the building let to be created by the spectator`s imagination. The main scenery didn`t change, but it was differently lighted, depending on the scene, so that it didn`t seem boring. Maybe less successful was the cemetery scene - you didn`t have the impression of being in a cemetery, or at least in a macabre place - but in general the scenery was very appropriate both to the recreation of the aristocrat parties atmosphere, and for the arias sung at the girls balconies. To the scenery`s attractiveness also contributed the little horses brought sometimes on the scene and always welcomed in with love and joy by the public.

There weren`t too many spectators - the Arena was only half-full. But, as everything is relative, the "half-full" means around 7-8000, so a lot for an opera show, especially for one that has been presented several more times this summer and will be repeated other many times. Unfortunately, many of the spectators "introduced" modern technology in the atmosphere, breaking the darkness with mobile phones with which they were probably trying to decipher the plot of the opera. Or to send text messages to their spouses or girlfriends to remain locked in the houses, for fear of the well-to-known lover arrived in Verona. :-)

"In Italia, seicento e quaranta! ("In Italy, six hundred and forty! "), accounts Leporello the seductions of his master on the Italian land. Certainly, if its reputation is true, the today`s Don Giovanni, at the Verona Arena, has no doubt won another heart in the country of the opera before or after the show. If not a female one, at least an appreciative one. Seicento e quarantuno! :-)

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