Don Giovanni - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Information about the opera Don Giovanni by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and the best recordings available on CD or DVD, or for download.
Mozart's version of the Don Juan story.
Recommended recordings on CD
Jacobs/Weisser/Pasichnyk (Harmonia Mundi HMC901964/6)
A lively production with brilliant playing and fine singing - recommended.
Berlin RIAS Chamber Choir, Freiburg Baroque Orchestra, conducted by René Jacobs.
Cast: Johannes Weisser (Don Giovanni), Olga Pasichnyk (Donna Anna), Alexandrina Pendatchanska (Donna Elvira), Sunhae Im (Zerlina), Kenneth Tarver (Don Ottavio).
Harmonia Mundi HMC901964/6
Giulini/Wächter/Sutherland (EMI CDS5 56232-2)
Despite its age, this recording still sounds excellent and captures the drama of the story better than its successors.
Philharmonia Chorus, Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Carlo Maria Giulini, 1959.
Cast: Eberhard Wächter (Don Giovanni), Dame Joan Sutherland (Donna Anna), Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (Donna Elvira), Graziella Sciutti (Zerlina), Luigi Alva (Don Ottavio).
EMI CDS5 56232-2
Recommended recordings on DVD
Pérez/Alvarez/Bayo (Opus Arte OA 0958 D)
A modern production convincingly set in 1940s Spain. It was recorded live at the Teatro Real de Madrid in 2005 with an excellent cast - recommended.
Madrid Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Victor Pablo Pérez, 2005.
Cast: Carlos Alvarez (Don Giovanni), Maria Bayo (Donna Anna), Sonia Ganassi (Donna Elvira), Maria José Moreno (Zerlina), José Bros (Don Ottavio).
Opus Arte OA 0958 D
Billy/Drabowicz/Schörg (Opus Arte OA 0921 D)
A modern production positioning Don Giovanni as a member of an urban tribe, surrounded by cars, guns, and alcohol.
Orchestra Academy of the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Chamber Choir of the Palau de la Música Catalana, conducted by Bertrand de Billy, 2002.
Cast: Wojtek Drabowicz (Don Giovanni), Regina Schörg (Donna Anna), Véronique Gens (Donna Elvira), Marisa Martins (Zerlina), Marcel Reijans (Don Ottavio).
Opus Arte OA 0921 D
Haitink/Luxon/Branisteanu (Arthaus Musik 101 087)
A Glyndebourne production from 1977 which doesn't quite achieve perfection.
Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Bernard Haitink, 1977.
Cast: Benjamin Luxon (Don Giovanni), Horiana Branisteanu (Donna Anna), Rachel Yakar (Donna Elvira), Elizabeth Gale (Zerlina), Leo Goeke (Don Ottavio).
Arthaus Musik 101 087
Muti/Allen/Gruberova (Opus Arte OA LS3001 D)
The recording of a 1987 La Scala production.
Milan La Scala Orchestra, Milan La Scala Chorus, conducted by Riccardo Muti, 1987.
Cast: Thomas Allen (Don Giovanni), Edita Gruberova (Donna Anna), Ann Murray (Donna Elvira), Susanne Mentzer (Zerlina), Francisco Araiza (Don Ottavio).
Opus Arte OA LS3001 D
Also included in the boxed set:
The La Scala Opera Collection