DON GIOVANNI – MOZART
Presented on Dec 6, 8, 11, 13 at the Gaiety Theatre Dublin as part of the Dublin Grand Opera Society’s Winter Season
Carlos Alexander – Giovanni
Herta Wilfert – Anna
Benno Küsche – Leporello
Elizabeth Schwarzenberg – Elvira
Glade Peterson – Ottavio
Edith Mathis – Zerlina
Zvi Borodo – Commendatore
Georg Pappas – Masetto
Tibor Paul – Conductor
André Diehl – Producer
Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” was also revived that season with Tibor Paul again conducting the RESO. It was, from all accounts, a more workmanlike than inspired opening performance, failing as Brian Quinn (Evening Herald) stated to ‘add an extra dimension to one’s experience of opera.’ The cast impressed, particularly Edith Mathis, as Zerlina, and Carlos Alexander in the title role of the seductive Don. ‘He was suave and assured and sings well,’ summed up one veteran reviewer. Undoubtedly it had been a memorable anniversary year and it was fitting that a presentation was made to both Dr Larchet and Colonel O’Kelly for their contribution to the work of the society. Each was presented with a gold and silver cigarette case. Bertie Timlin could always be relied upon to make his annual report an accurate and entertaining account of the society’s activities. When the music, for instance, of “Don Giovanni” was not available in time for the Gaiety performance, conductor Arthur Hammond, an old friend of the society, came to its assistance.
(Extracted from “Love and Music: The Glorious History of the Dublin Grand Opera Society” by Gus Smith, 1998)
Opera in Ireland 