The 1891 Fredonia Opera House continues the 2011-12 season of Live at the Met high definition opera broadcasts with Mozart's Don Giovanni on Saturday at 1 p.m.
"We're very excited to be presenting our first full season of live opera transmissions," says Opera House Executive Director Rick Davis. "We enjoyed a successful summer of encore presentations; but there's something very exhilarating about presenting the live broadcasts as they are being performed at the Met."
In Don Giovanni, the Met's newly named Principal Conductor, Fabio Luisi, conducts a new production of Mozart's classic opera of lust, heartbreak, and revenge, with Mariusz Kwiecien in his first Met performances of the iconic title role. Tony Award-winning director Michael Grandage makes his Met debut with this production that stars an international cast of acclaimed Mozart singers, including Marina Rebeka as Donna Anna, Mojca Erdmann as the innocent peasant girl Zerlina, Barbara Frittoli as the fiery Donna Elvira, Ramon Vargas as Don Ottavio, Luca Pisaroni as Giovanni's manservant Leporello, Joshua Bloom as Masetto, and tefan Koc'n as the vengeful Commendatore.
Charismatic young baritone Kwiecien sings the role of Don Giovanni (Don Juan), literature's greatest and most prolific lover. An injury during the dress rehearsal for this production nearly cost Kwiecien the chance at this legendary role. But following emergency back surgery, he returns to the production and is eager to share his Don Giovanni with the world.
The opera contains many of Mozart's greatest arias and duets, including "La ci darem la mano," "Madamina, il catalogo \ questa," "Fin ch'han dal vino," "Non mi dir," and "Mi tradi quell'alma ingrata."
The broadcast lasts three hours 40 minutes, notes Davis. "There is one intermission," he adds, "during which the Opera House will have snacks, beverages and box lunches available for purchase in the trustees room on the second floor of Village Hall. (No food or beverage is allowed inside the theatre.)"
Live at the Met opera broadcasts are made possible by Dr. James M. and Marcia Merrins, who funded the purchase of the satellite transmission and projection equipment used in the series. Additional support comes from Bob and Shirley Coon, Bob and Susan Dilks, and DFT Communications.
Tickets to Don Giovanni are $20 ($18 for Opera House and Met members, $15 for students) and are available in advance by calling or visiting the Box Office at 679-1891 Tuesday Friday, 1-5 p.m. and Saturday, 2-5 p.m. They also may be purchased online anytime at www.fredopera.org.
