Pittsburgh, PA…
August 13, 2019
Chris Cox, Director of Marketing and Communications
Office: 412.281.0912 ext. 217
Mobile: 412.427.7088 or
Contact via email
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Pittsburgh Opera gives Mozart’s Masterpiece Don Giovanni a stylish film noir look
Photo by Cory Weaver for Lyric Opera of Kansas City
Charming nobleman. Serial womanizer. Sexual predator. Don Giovanni is all these and more. As the list of people out to get him grows longer, eventually his misdeeds are bound to catch up with him.
Pittsburgh Opera starts its 81st season with a Mozart masterpiece. Don Giovanni leaves a trail of broken hearts, and worse, wherever he goes. He has his servant, the reluctant doormat Leporello, keep a journal of Don Giovanni’s many romantic conquests. Completely without morals or a conscience, Don Giovanni sexually assaults Donna Anna, then kills her father the Commendatore, who had tried to come to her defense. He seduces young Zerlina on her wedding day. But all actions have consequences, as Don Giovanni is soon to learn.
An irresistible classic, Mozart’s Don Giovanni seamlessly combines comedy and tragedy with one of the great musical scores of all time to create one of the world’s favorite operas.
As always, English supertitles will be projected above the stage.
Performance location/dates/times/length/language
Where: Benedum Center for the Performing Arts, downtown Pittsburgh
When:
- Sat., Oct. 12, 2019 * 8:00 PM
- Tues., Oct. 15, 2019 * 7:00 PM
- Fri., Oct. 18, 2019 * 7:30 PM
- Sun., Oct. 20, 2019 * 2:00 PM
Run Time: 3 hours, 10 minutes, with one intermission
Language: Sung in Italian with English texts projected above the stage
Tickets and Group Discounts
Mona: Meredith Arwady+
Curator: Audrey Welsh*
Thomas: Fran Daniel Laucerica*
Momma: Lauryn Davis*
Inspector: Matthew Soibelman*
Single tickets for adults start at $14; tickets for kids and teens ages 6-18 are half-price. Student discounts available. Single tickets go on sale August 26. Call 412-456-6666 or visit pittsburghopera.org/tickets.
Group tickets and subscription tickets are already for sale. Group Discounts available for groups of six or more. Contact Regina Connolly at (412) 281-0912, ext. 213 or via email.
Media Events
Please contact Chris Cox for reservations
- Photo Call (Mon., Sept. 30, 12:30 PM) - location TBA
- Full Dress Rehearsal (Thurs., Oct. 10, 7:00 PM) - Benedum Center
Related Events
- Rising Stars Concert (9/22)
- Market Square Farmer’s Market Concerts (9/26 & 10/3)
- Opera Up Close (9/29)
- WQED Preview (10/5 & 10/11)
- New Guard Lounge (10/12)
- Audio Commentary (10/15)
- Meet the Artists (10/15)
- October Brown Bag concert (10/19)
The Story, in brief
See the Don Giovanni show page for a complete synopsis of the opera.
Fun facts about Don Giovanni
- The original/full title of the opera is “Don Giovanni, or The Libertine Punished.” As a morality tale, Don Giovanni ultimately pays for his evil actions with his life.
- Movie buffs will love the opera’s stylish film noir look, with Easter Eggs paying homage to classic noir movies such as Double Indemnity, The Third Man, Out of the Past, Kiss Me Deadly, and The Big Sleep, among others. Director Kristine McIntyre explains the noir treatment in this video.
- As part of the film noir look, the entire opera - costumes and set - is black and white, with some very intentional exceptions, adding to the eery, dark feeling of the show.
- Don Giovanni was the first opera to use a trombone.
Sponsors
- PNC is the 2019-20 Pittsburgh Opera Season Sponsor
- WQED-FM is Pittsburgh Opera’s Media Sponsor
- Ambridge Regional Distribution and Manufacturing Center is the Tuesday performance and ‘Meet the Artists’ post-show event sponsor.
