NY Times Review of Met's Don Giovanni: "Reckless in Seduction, if Not Onstage"

Peter Mattei (L) & Luca Pisaroni (R)

Marty Sohl/Metropolitan Opera

New York Times critic Anthony Tommasi has written a review of the new Metropolitan Opera production of "Don Giovanni." Readers are well aware that this production was plagued by the last-minute injury of Mariusz Kwiecien, who New Yorkers had eagerly anticipated performing the role for the first time on the Met stage. Tommasini's review focuses a lot on Michael Grandage's production, which appears to suffer from many of the criticisms that beset his "Billy Budd" at Glyndebourne, which is an overly conservative and cautious portrayal of the opera. Much of the criticism's of Grandage's "Billy Budd" was that he stripped the sexual tension from the opera. We'll be curious if this Giovanni is different when Kwiecien, who along with Randal Turner is known as one of the most sexually charged Giovanni's, returns to the cast. [FYI: The Barihunks crew is attending the October 25 performance when Kwiecien returns].

Joélle Harvey as Zerlina and Kelly Markgraf as Masetto; Jason Hardy as Leporello and Daniel Okulitch as Don Giovanni NYCO's Sexy and Vivid Don Giovanni (Photo by © Carol Rosegg)

Tommasini points out that this production paled in comparison to the "vivid" and "sexy" Christopher Alden production that the New York City Opera produced in 2009. We were unabashedly enthusiastic about the City Opera's "Giovanni," which we thought was one of the best ever produced. With City Opera slowly rising from the ashes, it will be nice to see some renewed competition in the Big Apple.

However, he did single out and praise the performances of the singers. Here is what he wrote about the barihunks.

[Mattei] was superb, singing alternately with suave, seductive phrasing and menacing intensity. At 6-foot-4, he was lordly, cagey, heady with desire and glibly reckless.

The bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni was a dynamic Leporello, singing with a muscular voice, rich colorings and agility. Handsome and full of bluster, this youthful Leporello exuded resentment while bowing to his master’s commands. But for the accident of birth, Mr. Pisaroni’s Leporello would be the nobleman and lady-killer. And there was some intriguing sexual tension in Giovanni’s roughhousing with his servant. 

You can read Tommasini's entire review at the New York Times online site.

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Mariusz Kwiecien Taken to Hospital for Herniated Disc

Kwiecien as Don Giovanni at Covent Garden

As we did when barihunk Daniel Okulitch was involved in a car accident, we will try to keep readers apprised of developments concerning Mariusz Kwiecien's injury during a rehearsal of Don Giovanni. Here is the latest update from the New York Times.

By DANIEL J. WAKIN, NY Times

Mariusz Kwiecien, the Polish baritone who was cast in the title role of the Metropolitan Opera’s new production of “Don Giovanni,” which opens on Thursday night, underwent surgery for a herniated disk on Tuesday, his manager said. “The doctors feel that Mariusz’s prognosis is excellent,” said the manager, William Guerri, of Columbia Artists Management. But it was unclear when he might return to the stage. “It’s a wait-and-see proposition,” Mr. Guerri said. Mr. Kwiecien felt pain during the opening scene of Monday’s dress rehearsal, the manager said. He was taken by paramedics to a hospital, said the Met spokesman, Peter Clark. The Met tapped Peter Mattei, who was on hand for a production of Rossini’s “Barbiere di Siviglia,” to replace Mr. Kwiecien for the opening of “Don Giovanni.” The opera has 16 more performances into March, although Mr. Kwiecien was scheduled to be in the cast only through Nov. 11.

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Barihunks Mattei & Hvorostovsky: 2011 Opera News Honorees

Two barihunks are among the honorees for the seventh annual Opera News Awards, which will be presented on Sunday, April 29 at The Plaza in New York City. The awards, pay tribute to artists who have made an invaluable contribution to the art form. Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Peter Mattei will join sopranos Karita Mattila and Anja Silja, as well as director Peter Sellars as honorees.

The official announcement will appear in the September 2011 issue of Opera News, which is available on August 4 and features barihunk Mariusz Kwiecien on the cover. [We will post the cover tomorrow].

The Opera News Awards were created in 2005. They recognize five individuals each year for distinguished achievement in the field of opera. 

Here is Peter Mattei with Juan Diego Florez singing the Act 2 duet from The Barber of Seville:



Here is what Opera News wrote about Mattei and Hvorostovsky in announcing the awards. 

Pater Mattei as Billy Budd

From Managing Editor Oussama Zahr regardig Peter Mattei:

"Peter Mattei's lustrous baritone - firm and generously produced, with an appealing softness around the edges - sets him apart today as a marvelous singer. But it's his astonishing ability to inhabit a range of characters - from the frothiest comedy to the bleakest tragedy - that makes him an artist of the highest caliber."

Senior Editor Louise T. Guinther said of Dmitri Hvorostovsky:

"Dmitri Hvorostovsky's charisma, glamour, and vocal prowess are without peer. Equally persuasive on recordings, on the recital stage, and in the opera house, Hvorostovsky is a singer whose artistry speaks to everyone."

 Here are winners Karita Mattila and Dmitri Hvorostovsky singing "Là ci darem la mano" from Mozart's Don Giovanni.



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Peter Mattei as Yeletsky in Queen of Spades

Mattei & Mattila @ The Met

Peter Mattei is at The Met tonight in Tchaikovsky's "Queen of Spades" surrounded by an all-star cast that includes Karita Mattila, Dolora Zajick and Vladimir Galouzine. This has clearly been one of the major successes for the company this year. In addition to tonight's performance, it will be performed on March 21 and 26. Click HERE for tickets and additional information.

Mike Silverman, writing for the Associated Press, said of Mattei's performance:
 

As Prince Yeletsky, Lisa's jilted fiance, Peter Mattei sang his gorgeous Act 2 aria with the silky tone we are accustomed to hearing from this artist.

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