DON GIOVANNI – MOZART
Presented on Nov 24, 26, 28, Dec 1 at the Gaiety Theatre Dublin as part of the Dublin Grand Opera Society’s Winter Season
Geraint Evans – Giovanni
Joan Sutherland – Anna
Martin Lawrence – Leporello
Patricia Bartlett – Elvira
Dermot Troy – Ottavio
Patricia Clark – Zerlina
Bruce Dargaval – Commendatore
Harold Blackburn – Masetto
Bryan Balkwill – Conductor
Anthony Besch – Producer
Soprano Joan Sutherland by contrast made an unmistakable impact that winter of ’58 as Donna Anna in “Don Giovanni”, a production that undeniably is remembered by many of the DGOS. It featured Geraint Evans as the Don and at least one critic described his portrayal as irresistible, Irish tenor Dermot Troy as Ottavio and Martin Lawrence as Leporello. There was general agreement that Miss Sutherland’s performance had hints of star quality and that she had an excellent career before her. To John Allen, who was singing in the chorus, it was an important occasion. ‘We were seeing the breakthrough not only of Joan Sutherland, who was a stunning Donna Anna, but also Dermot Troy whose “Il mio tesoro” captivated the audience. I didn’t realise at the time that he was deaf in one ear and so was puzzled why he sang the aria “Dalla Sua Pace” flatly in some spots. Geraint Evans was singing the Don for the first time and it was apparently testing himself in the role; he would drop it later for Leporello. It was a very good “Don Giovanni” and Dublin was seeing young singers who would soon go on to attain operatic glory.’ It was a gala occasion and from all accounts, more colourful than usual. It certainly included more government ministers and they were welcomed in the theatre’s foyer by Dr Larchet and his wife, Lt.-Col. Bill O’Kelly, Prince Caracciolo and Tom Doyle, S.C., chairman of the DGOS Patron Members’ Committee. It was stated that many of the audience were in formal dress and that boxes were banked by flowers. “Don Giovanni” was the best booked opera of that winter season of ’58, partly because Dermot Troy was making his debut with the society. Born in Tinahely, Co. Wicklow, in July 1927, he had already sung at Glyndebourne and at Covent Garden, in the latter house as Vasek in “The Bartered Bride” and David in “Die Meistersinger”. He was settled in London with his wife Eithne, and really made his mark in the Covent Garden production of Berlioz’s “Les Troyens” when his singing of the sailor’s aria was noted by the critics. Soon he would be going to the Mannheim Opera where he had successfully auditioned. His lyric tenor of lovely timbre was ideally suited to Mozart’s music but was disappointed that Covent Garden management did not ask him to sing Tamino in “The Magic Flute”. Norris Davidson was a lover of Mozart’s operas and told me he regretted that the DGOS had not by then invited Dermot Troy to sing Tamino. He had liked the tenor’s stylish singing as Ottavio and it had recorded well; indeed the broadcast of “Don Giovanni” had been particularly well received by listeners not only because of his being in the cast, but the quality of the recording itself was good. The audience’s enthusiasm had also come through in the broadcast and the Radio Eireann Symphony Orchestra under Bryan Balkwill had sounded extremely good.
(Extracted from “Love and Music: The Glorious History of the Dublin Grand Opera Society” by Gus Smith, 1998)
Opera in Ireland 