René Jacobs is an acknowledged master of informed period performance practice, and he turns his considerable arsenal of research, insight, and experience to Don Giovanni, which he maintains has become so mired in misguided nineteenth century interpretive traditions that most modern performances badly misrepresent Mozart's intentions. He points out that operatic roles in Mozart's time were clearly differentiated by type -- serious (such as Donna Anna, Don Ottavio, the Commendatore), which required the most musical virtuosity ...
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René Jacobs is an acknowledged master of informed period performance practice, and he turns his considerable arsenal of research, insight, and experience to Don Giovanni, which he maintains has become so mired in misguided nineteenth century interpretive traditions that most modern performances badly misrepresent Mozart's intentions. He points out that operatic roles in Mozart's time were clearly differentiated by type -- serious (such as Donna Anna, Don Ottavio, the Commendatore), which required the most musical virtuosity; comic (Leporello, Zerlina, Masetto), which were primarily required to be performed by gifted singing comedians; and roles that required both serious and buffo characteristics, such as Donna Elvira and Don Giovanni -- and that these distinctions must be observed for the opera to make its full impact. He further points out that Don Giovanni is not the middle-aged (or aging) lecher as he is so often portrayed, but a slightly older version of Octavian whose voice has changed, whose...
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Add this copy of Mozart: Don Giovanni to cart. $56.80, new condition, Sold by Revaluation Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Exeter, DEVON, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2007 by HARMONIA MUNDI: HMC901964.66.