Don Giovanni

The opening scene of Pier Luigi Pizzi's 2011 Sferisterio Opera Festival production of Don Giovanni makes it clear that this is not your grandfather's Mozart: Ildebrando D'Arcangelo's Don Giovanni admires his buff, shirtless torso and even sneaks in a few push-ups before engaging in ribald horseplay with his valet Leporello. And from there, Don Giovanni continues to place a heavy emphasis on eroticizing the actions of its libertine anti-hero, with fondling and caressing and even some obvious bisexual play. Granted, opera purists may not approve of this excessive focus on the crassly carnal appetite of the title character, but it forces a bold and modern reconsideration of this classic 18th-century opera. D'Arcangelo is the fuel for this machine, bringing a raw physicality to the role; his brute physical and emotional force exudes animal magnetism as his reckless character seduces and abandons (and, when necessary, murders) unsuspecting victims. Andrea Concetti is solid as Leporello, as is the rest of the supporting cast. Pizzi's staging is stark, with D'Arcangelo's red suit standing out like satanic tailoring, while an unmade bed continuously returns as a central prop to display the amorous aristocrat's misadventures. Musically, the Fondazione Orchestra Regionale delle Marche sparkles under the capable baton of Riccardo Frizza. Presented in DTS 5.0 (DTS-HD 5.0 on the Blu-ray release) and PCM stereo, this is highly recommended. (P. Hall)