A resplendent late summer treat has landed at the Waterperry Gardens. In the desert of August theatre and concerts in Oxford (outside of an occasional open-air production it really is a light month for cultural endeavors), Waterperry Opera Festival has arrived for an eighth year. They bring with them several productions, from full-scale operas to concerts and smaller family productions nestled in the venue’s gardens. And Daily Info checked out the jewel in this year’s lineup, a staging of Mozart’s Don Giovanni.
The opera follows the titular figure, a roguish aristocrat who spends two hours aggressively attempting to seduce the female characters, whilst abusing several of the men. He’s a fascinatingly dislikeable presence, clearly imbued with charisma but one who is violent (a key murder takes place early on) and sexually aggressive. You root for him to receive his just comeuppances, for the rest of the ensemble to come through. But Mozart seems aware of this, as there really are few truly morally good individuals to be found here.
Exemplarily staged by director John Wilkie across a trio of imposing train carriages that have landed outside the front of Waterperry Opera, this is a production that envelopes you, with moments where the cast leave the confines of the stage to take in the use of the house and the audience. Ceci Caif’s design work is resplendent and imposing, with a set design that impresses and beautiful costuming that fits each character well. You will see few shows at this level in Oxfordshire this year. It’s all effectively lit by Jake Wiltshire, who brings a great deal of atmosphere as the night draws in.
Our ensemble effectively propels this staging forward. Edmund Danon’s Giovanni is a slippery presence but bears the heavy lifting of the show well. He plays off well with the rest of the cast, particularly Emyr Wyn Jones’ Leporello, who has many of the laughs of the night. It’s hard to pick other parts to highlight as there isn’t a weak link here, but Kira Kaplan and Georgia Mae Ellis both stun in solo moments, hitting the high notes skillfully. Special mention must go to the Young Artist Chorus, who hold many moments together and give the staging a much-needed mass on the stage. And the Waterperry Opera orchestra are brilliant, seamless and give the evening such life, all conducted skillfully by Charlotte Politi.
Running until August 17th, the Waterperry Opera Festival is a perfect summer cultural highlight. Around the show is so much more, thanks to a venue that is warm and inviting. The opera pauses in the middle for a dinner break and so you can picnic and also explore the gardens as dusk sets in. As strong as the show was, it’s enhanced by all that’s around it. It also feels a terrific introduction to opera, with this being a remarkably approachable show, translated into English and the perfect mix of high drama and amusing farce. Don Giovanni may have a monstrous figure at its centre but it's an opera staged for all to enjoy.