Canadian Opera Company – Mozart’s Don Giovanni

Paula Citron

__________________________
Don Giovanni
Canadian Opera Company
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Directed by Robin Guarino
Conducted by William Lacey
Starring Brett Polegato, Robert Pomakov, Jessica Muirhead, Julie Makerov, Gordon Gietz, Virginia Hatfield, Stanislav Shvets and Richard Wiegold
At Four Seasons Centre until Oct. 31
____________________________

The Canadian Opera Company’s production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni is more than serviceable. The mostly Canadian cast sings and acts well, and conductor William Lacey holds no surprises in the score.

Director Robin Guarino emphasizes the sex in her staging, and the production proceeds on a measured tread. And then there is the finale where Guarino includes a daring coup de théâtre that is fresh and exciting.

The most pleasant surprise in terms of singers is tenor Gordon Gietz as Don Ottavio. His latter career has mostly been in Europe, and he has come back an accomplished leading man with an assured voice that includes an easy top.

Baritone Brett Polegato gives a dashing performance as a lounge lizard Don Giovanni, but bass Robert Pomakov is a little too prancey as Leporello. The rest of the cast is solid, with soaring-voice soprano Jessica Muirhead as Donna Anna being a stand-out.

Don Giovanni continues at the Four Seasons Centre until Oct. 31.