Don Giovanni

Live performance from Cologne Opera Conlon conducts a skittishly dynamic performance of Don Giovanni He relies on Thomas Allens tough Don to give the work much of its dark menace and on Holles terrifying Commendatore to provide the moral outrage his job is to keep things moving and he does The exteriors blank city spaces reminiscent of the paintings of Giorgio De Chirico and moodily claustrophobic interiors mirror effectively the anguish of the orphaned Anna and the abandoned Elvira this is a performance in which the two women victims of the Don function effectively as correctives to his libertine charm Andrea Rost as Zerlina brings real delicacy to her role reminding us that La ci darem la mano is a duet about her flirtation with Don Giovanni and not just a famous standalone moment This is an admirable presentation of a fine performance