The opera ‘Don Giovanni’ of the Deutsche Oper Berlin makes its debut in Catalonia at the Castell de Peralada Festival

Barcelona (ACN).- This weekend the Castell de Peralada Festival will be host to a unique operatic production. The opera ‘Don Giovanni’ by Mozart under the stage direction of Roland Shwab and with a prestigious cast including Carlos Álvarez, Robert Gleadow and Patrizia Ciofi, will be staged in the Empordà County (on the Costa Brava) this Friday August 3^rd and Sunday August 5^th. This astonishing work, with references to the film ‘Funny Games’ by Michael Haneke and with allusions to sadism and immortality, tells the story of a man living on the edge in a constant search without end. It is the first time this famous opera will be staged in Spain by the Deutsche Oper Berlin.

This production, which premiered on October 29^th 1787 in Prague, tells the story of the character, Don Giovanni, who is totally immoral and believes in nothing except searching beyond the limits of reality and mortality to seek God’s voice. The opera, directed by Roland Shwab, can be seen this Friday August 3^rd and Sunday August 5^th at an event in the Empordà County, in north-eastern Catalonia.

In the production which has more than 160 people, the baritone Carlos Álvarez, is responsible bringing the character of Don Giovanni to life. Also, there will be Robert Gleadow as ‘Leporello’, Philippe Talbot as ‘Don Ottavio’, Marlko Mimica as ‘Masetto’, Rafael Siwek as ‘commendatore’, Patrizia Ciofi as ‘Donna Anna’, Ana María Martínez as ‘Donna Elvira’ and Jana Kuruçova will play ‘Zerlina’. Also participating is the Chamber Choir from the Palau de la Música situated in Barcelona, with direction by Guillermo García Calvo.

It will be the first time the masterpiece by Mozart will be staged in Spain by the Deutsche Oper Berlin, which is celebrating its 100^th anniversary this year at the event. According to the music director, the production begins with the murder of the female protagonist’s (Anna’s) Father and the lead character can be compared with figures such as ‘Casanova’ or even ‘Marquis de Sade’. Also the production contains scenes reminiscent of the macabre film ‘Funny Games’.

On Thursday, the company rehearsed one final time before the showing this Friday at the Castell de Peralada Festival. The director paused the rehearsals at certain points to scrutinise and adjust small details before the opera’s grand debut in Spain.