Opera Australia presents Don Giovanni 2008 at the Sydney Opera House

He never sleeps, is fearless, irresistible to women and a threat to the status quo of society. - Elke Neidhardt 

Immoral. Unrepentant. Sexy. Many have tried to pin down Mozart's darkest and most dazzling of creations. Now it is the turn of Elke Neidhardt who, along with Jennie Tate and the set and lighting design team who created South Australia's Ring Cycle, turns her critical eye to the case of the rampaging libertine.

Will she find him a murdering rapist or a revolutionary? Whatever the answer, the clues lie in Mozart's music, which somehow seems to encompass all humanity. From the testosterone-fuelled 'Champagne Aria' to the touching 'La ci darem la mano', from the ominous opening of the overture through to the beautifully crafted ensembles, he captures the emotions with amazing acuity, using the simplest of melodies to reveal profound truths.

The Don is making a swift exit from his latest lover when her enraged father stops him. A duel, a fatal blow and what might have been a mere stumbling block on the road to the next conquest becomes the catalyst for Don Giovanni's final, blazing fate.

Making his Australian debut in the title role is Hungarian Gabor Bretz, in demand in Europe for his magnificently dark-hued voice, and to conduct we welcome Mikhail Agrest, the dynamic protégé of Valery Gergiev. Joshua Bloom makes his role debut as Leporello, Rachelle Durkin plays Donna Anna and Catherine Carby makes her debut as the feisty Donna Elvira.

Schedule Details Departs:

• Tuesday 8 July, 2008 at 7:30pm
• Thursday 10 July, 2008 at 7:30pm
• Wednesday 16 July, 2008 at 7:30pm
• Saturday 19 July, 2008 at 1:00pm
• Friday 25 July, 2008 at 7:30pm
• Thursday 31 July, 2008 at 7:30pm
• Thursday 7 August, 2008 at 7:30pm
• Friday 15 August 2008 at 7:30pm
• Thursday 21 August, 2008 at 7:30pm
• Saturday 23 August, 2008 at 1:00pm
• Tuesday 26 August, 2008 at 7:30pm
• Friday 29 August, 2008 at 7:30pm
• Wednesday 3 September, 2008 at 7:30pm
• Friday 5 September, 2008 at 7:30pm
• Wednesday 10 September, 2008 at 7:30pm

Departure Point: The Sydney Opera House is located at Bennelong Point, on Sydney Harbour. The Opera Theatre can be reached from the Concourse (44 steps). Departure Time: Please refer to Departure Dates. Itinerary:

Don Giovanni escapes from Donna Anna's bedroom, followed by her father, the Commendatore, brandishing a sword. The Don kills him in a duel and escapes. Donna Anna swears revenge. Don Giovanni then tries to seduce the peasant girl Zerlina. He seems to be on the verge of success when one of his old flames, Donna Elvira (very much a scorned woman), arrives to warn her off. Zerlina's fiancée Masetto is not too impressed, either. The Don throws a party for the peasants, at which Donna Elvira, Donna Anna and her betrothed Don Ottavio appear in disguise. They catch Don Giovanni attempting once again to woo Zerlina, and swear vengeance.

By disguising himself as Leporello, the Don manages to escape his pursuers. Hiding out in a cemetery, he hears a mysterious voice threaten him. He sees that it is the statue of the Commendatore, which carries an inscription saying that he waits to be avenged. Don Giovanni invites the statue to dinner, with unpalatable consequences.

Don Giovanni dines, waited on by Leporello while a band of musicians play music from popular operas. Donna Elvira makes a last attempt to induce him to repent. He ridicules her until she leaves. There is a loud knock at the door. It is the statue of the Commendatore, who has arrived for dinner. Don Giovanni accepts the Commendatore's return invitation and as a pledge grasps the extended hand of the statue. The grip is ice-cold, but even as his limbs begin to freeze, Don Giovanni refuses to repent. He is hurled down into the flames of hell. Leporello informs the other characters of what has taken place and the others begin to resume their former safer, but less exciting lives.

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