Washington Post - Somewhat Recommended
"... Certainly the audience was eager to like it; all of the laugh lines of Lorenzo da Ponte, the opera’s librettist, were greeted with hearty chuckles by the opening-night crowd. Didja know Don Giovanni seduced 1,003 women in Spain?Didja know he can smell a woman coming?If you know the opera, you accept the tradition that makes these lines funny. If you don’t, you might smile politely and wish that better casting had made this evening, for all its strong moments, a better argument for why you, too, should acquire this taste."
DC Theater Arts - Highly Recommended
"... Considered to be one of the greatest operas ever composed, Don Giovanni makes its revival appearance as the second offering of The Washington National Opera’s 2012/2013 season. Housed at The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s brilliant orchestrations transforms the tale of the legendary scoundrel Don Juan into a comically light-hearted yet deadly serious musical masterpiece. Don Giovanni delves into the depths of reckless excess and mortal immorality as he continues his conquest of unquenchable lust, seducing more than 2,000 women in his wake. But a man can only go about in this manner for so long before the women he has scorned and discarded turn to drastic measures to seek revenge."
Baltimore Sun - Highly Recommended
"... All things considered, the opening of Washington National Opera's season is quite strong, especially in terms of that elusive, hard to pin down concept known as style."
MetroWeekly - Recommended
"... And, just like Bolena, it's one man in particular who seems to hold all the cards. Here it is Don Giovanni, lord of the local manor. Set by director John Pascoe in what is described as royalist and fascist Spain, Giovanni takes full advantage of his wealth and status, chronically womanizing and occasionally date-raping anything in a skirt. But Giovanni's careless existence begins to unravel when he forces himself upon the devout and unassailable Donna Anna. Though she must first uncover his identity (he molested her in the dark),Anna, unlike many of Giovanni's prey, has the drive and resources to hunt her assailant."
The Georgetowner - Highly Recommended
"... It pays to have a great “Don Giovanni” in this part. He must have the chops, the voice and the looks and Russian bass Ildar Abrazakov has all three, because you have to, if not be sympathetic to Giovanni, at least feel his powers. Otherwise, we’re just dealing with a rapist, a boor and a killer. For a bass, Abrazakov sings with great power, sure, but also with surprising range. Consider for a moment when he’s decides to seduce yet another woman with a street-level balcony serenade (the famous “deh, vieni alla finestra”). He’s on his knees, the voice lowers, pleading, sweet, an ode to beauty and desire, it’s pitched to passion and wanting, it’s so moving you can imagine someone’s really smart and pretty sister falling for it. It caused at least one man in the audience to elicit a loud “Bravo!” and loud clapping."
DCTheatreScene - Highly Recommended
If there is an unequivocal argument for continuing to produce big classical opera as part of Washington National Opera’s mission, then this production of Don Giovanni makes the case. Weighing in pound for pound of set, number of union orchestra players, a large international cast, and over three and a half hours, it’s a hefty effort and price tag. I, for one, would not have wanted to miss one note or moment.
