Bryn Terfel - Don Giovanni - Madamina, il catalogo e' questo

[1066anglophile]

This might be the best aria ever written for a male singer, but I have to doubt it's truthfulness - I don't know if one man, even Don Giovanni, could handle that many women...

[theunsungsong]

Thank you,Amadeus! E grazie tante, signor Lorenzo Da Ponte!!!

[Gabofeles]

@theunsungsong Agree! Lorenzo Da Ponte make it possible with the wonderful libreto :) We can't forget it!

[mutesasiraf]

good performance

[MaxwellsDemon9]

[continued] Of course, if you are a historian and I am wrong, say so…

What is needed is a separate Don Giovanni discussion thread to exchange opinions about Youtube renditions and explore this great work. 500 characters per comment don’t cut it.

[MaxwellsDemon9]

[continued] By 1787, Viennese society was more worried about revolution than about supernatural retribution for social crimes. In their anxiety at political events, the “Dons” of Vienna were given to crimes of sensual excess themselves. Casanova attended the Prague premiere!

So, to my mind Furlanetto’s confused, conflicted, often horrified, and loyal Leporello fits historically and textually… I do not think that Ferruccio violates the spirit or intent of the artist.

[MaxwellsDemon9]

[continued] In the first aria, Leporello says he hates being a servant and that his master is ungrateful, but not that he despises his master. He bemoans his station without singling out his master.

The first written appearance of the Don Juan myth – in 1630 - told a cautionary tale, but 250 years of Enlightenment divided the literary treatment of the myth as a moral fable and Mozart’s opera.

[MaxwellsDemon9]

[continued] You say Leporello feels unalloyed resentment and loathing for the Don, but the text does not support this interpretation. Various passages suggest that his emotions include loyalty, grudging admiration, and even – on occasion - vicarious enjoyment of the Don’s exploits. Leporello keeps the catalogue at the *Don’s* behest (if you doubt that, note that the Don repeatedly refers to it as “my list”).

[1401JSC]

Leporello saurait lire et écrire???

[MaxwellsDemon9]

I agree, Terfel depicts an embittered Leporello. It's an interesting take, worth watching. The staging his cute, her crawling backward and all. LOL. But overall I prefer Furlanetto's happy-go-lucky (and hapless) Leporello.

[salphonso]

@MaxwellsDemon9 Furlanetto's Leporello is detrimental to the opera. Leporello's anger against his master is crucial to the public perception of Don Giovanni. Considering that "Don Giovanni" was too immoral for the public, the only reason it worked was because Don Giovanni seemed alone in his conquests. Even his servant was opposed to him. The opera became a symbol of banishment of immorality. It was written that way, and so should be performed that way. Leporello is cunning, not hapless.

[MaxwellsDemon9]

@salphonso The Don elicits a variety of emotions from the other characters – not exclusively wrath and hatred. Elvira’s affection (and desire) for the Don never wanes, however beastly his crimes. The opera explores the relationship between the supernatural and morality, but also *celebrates* the Don’s exuberance and heightened humanity. UGH…. this subject demands more SPACE than 500 characters….

[darkhyena]

This really does show Leporello's embittered side. He despises the Don, but seems jealous of his ability to charm women too

[salphonso]

@darkhyena This is precisely what is expected of the aria. Leporello states, in his first aria, "Notte e giorno faticar", that he despises working for Don Giovanni and wishes to get a new master. In the Catalogue Aria, Leporello keeps notes on his master's conquests, only so he may use them against him in the future. Leporello is bitter.

[candidnt]

Ohhhh my god. I've always believed with every fiber of my being that Leporello and Donna Elvira should be together. This performance is like a dream to me. An unbelievably creepy, color-costume-coordinated dream, but a dream nonetheless. Love.

[operagirl81]

@candidnt haha that was really funny!!

[DIEZAUBERFLOTEMENSCH]

great

[222mozart]

5:44 !!!

))))))

[CrystalFlames]

This is an awesomely creepy performance. <3

[saintsaens21]

Who is this attractive brunette on stage with Terfel?

[benanescas]

Carmela Remigio

[nnmakowska]

@benanescas, I think she`s Anna Caterina Antonacci, Remigio being Donna Anna in this production, but correct me if I'm wrong.

[benanescas]

@nnmakowska yes you're right. Donna Anna is Carmela Remigio and Donna Elvira (in this clip) is Anna Caterina Antonacci. I'm wrong :)

[benanescas]

@benanescas Ehm She's not Camrle Remigio, but Anna Caterina Antonacci.

[giannibodoar]

MOZART e' sempre MOZART

TERFEL e ABBADO sempre grandi

[tantricsurfer]

Bryan is a fantastic singer, especially in the piano parts of the spartito (la dolcezza, voi sapete, etc.)

[Tersitanton]

Non mi piacciono i costumi., benché non si arrivi a quegli orribili eccessi oggi tanto di moda.

[serenade00007]

Erwin Schrott can sing this perfectly.

[berlin1010]

schrott can sing it and act it. He is the best Leporello now...and his don is not bad, but I prefer Siepi.

[achichfuhls2010]

I agree! I love his voice!

[liric01994]

bene, ma mi piace piu' come Don Giovanni

[MrConductor1984]

Interesting in the beginnig, that Terfel and Abbado have obviously different opinions about the tempo, but Abbado soon gives up!

[golaxo]

lol :)

Strange directing at about 2.30 :)

[Iaparulava]

Listen to Ildebrando D'arcangelo singing this with so much lightness and beauty!!!

[flaze3]

I like Turfel--he's great :)

[modchik78]

same story- just a different century

[enantiodrom]

La leggerezza dell'orchestra diretta da Abbado. I borbottii dei fagotti e dei legni sembrano delle disilluse risate. bellissimo

[lolitatalol]

Could anyone briefly tell me what he is going on about? With the "Ma in Ispagna, mille e tre"

What is being counted?

[keblemilkbitch]

The list of the many lovers of Don Giovanni.

[lolitatalol]

Oh. Haha, ok! =D

Thanks

[elisaballerina456]

The woman that his master has loved

[currymuttonpizza]

Interesting staging.......

[34fgsfgsdtu48w7qtaqt]

Insuperabile Terfel!

[operabuff23]

Un consiglio: Ferruccio Furlanetto, Basso. 1003 volte meglio. Cercalo su youtube, che canta la stessa aria. Non c'e' paragone.

[beethomozart]

perhaps the best bass-baritone nowadays bryn terfel,long live mozart

[operabuff23]

Try Ferruccio Furlanetto (Bass) singing the same aria. So much better. You'll see. Look him up right here on the tube.

[lithiumsliver]

Totaly agreed! Furlanetto's acting is also better

[oyamicanto]

Thank you for your advise.. Mr Ferrucio is really the best LeporelIo I've ever seen..

[elcamaleon1]

It is with great joy I remember the first time I saw this video, with no comprenhension of the Italian language, performed by Bryn Terfel. Opera instantly became a life-long love. È con una giogia che mi sono accorto della prima volta quando ho visto questo film, e non avevo nessuna compresione della lingua italiana. Fu presentato con Terfel. L'opera immediatamente è devenuto un'amore per tutta la mia vita....:)

[FAFdocet]

Comunque le spagnole gran zoccole

[Sylv6677]

ever thought that his 'ma' means 'but' and not 'my'?

By the way, love his Leporello

[baritono81]

My favorite Leporello, great pianissimo at end, and love his breath support while sitting and laying on the stage, incredible voice.

[piasecznik]

Yeah, Leporello turns his character when he sings "MA passion predominante". I know it only as "SUA passion predominante"- but in this version he does not tell the Dons story anymore, but his own- beginning at that point.

[alexthemagic]

they're not messed up. The original text says "Lamagna" that stands for Germany, in the italian language of 18°century

[sonoi1vento]

who the heck wrote these subtitles?!? they're all messed up: "Lamagna." LAMAGNA?!? Um....does anyone know whether such a country exists without my knowledge, or could it perhaps be that l'Alemagna is italian for Germany?

[WonderMax1970]

Is just a question of pronunciation.. In early italian Germania=Germany was called Alemagna and germans were called "Alemanni" ... Ciao^^

[butterfly050689]

wow, bryn terfel hat's herausen!!! =)

[FrenchNeuromancer]

+++++

[tu75be]

Genau so!

[mistralmaster]

bravo

[burtsbees2]

yeah 5:25 to 5:30 is super creepy. but i actually think it was a neat staging idea; it makes donna elvira seem really misused. we're never really supposed to dislike leporello, but that kind of overlooks the fact that he assisted the don in taking advantage of women.

[Taskat]

Ah, but he only assisted him by the duty of his time as a valet.

Very well spoken, burtsbees.

[donprofondo]

I blame the stage director for the vulgarity of the ending. Otherwise I am a great fan of Bryn Terfel, since his first lieder CD as a vocal arrist of unique insights. Here however he sometime distorts Mozart's line, over doing rallentandos, sforzatos. For real Mozart style, see Otto Edelmann under Furwangler in 1954. Slower but funnier, teasing but never vulgar.

[Chiliarches]

Wow...he's brilliant in EVERYTHING, isn't he...

[ettoleetoile]

Does anyone know who did the staging of this production?? It's really good! Is it available on DVD? I like to use it for a dissertation on Don Giovanni productions!

[Fleurs]

January 1997

Teatro Comunale di Ferrara

Chamber Orchestra of Europe

Conductor: Claudio Abbado

Stage Director: Lorenzo Mariani

DGG recently released a SACD recorded then with (almost) the same cast.

As far as I know it has never been released on DVD.

I've got a video recording from RAI (Italian National Boradcasting Company).

Write me at music_eyes @ hotmail . com if interested.

[tosca333scarpia]

I have seen Terfel do this Leporello and a marvelous recital. Stylistically he is perfection. His German lieder was a joy.. every nuance, subtle; his Welsh folksongs were very simply sung -- he did several Flanders and Swann funny songs and they were hilarious.. and some Broadway. The later did not sound like an opera singer doing show tunes. I saw him in the Lyric Opera productions of Sweeney Todd; Falstaff; and Magic Flute-- all beautifully performed and very different.

[miguelaosornio]

Nice clip....Personally I never seen Mr Terfel on stage but I have 2 different recordings of him for the same opera but different roles.... one as Leporello and the other like Don Giovanni and as far as I can listen I think Mr Terfel is better in Leporello that in Don Giovanni.

[edwardphiribaritone]

This is a wonderful piece and the character is well potrayed. The voice is perfect for Leporello. Bravo signor Terfel...

[gvjps123]

He sounds wonderful and the interpretation is very interesting. This Leporello is very cynical and angry.

[wotancb]

what a fantasitc singer!!!! I would like to see the stretta of the end of act one! Can you post it for me? Please!

[DECBAR]

The choreography is just perfect in this clip; it is quite unlike any other stage directions I have seen in this aria. Bryn Terfel did a splendid job in this clip as well, and, having played Don Giovanni before, he (as Leporello) displayed DG's characteristics at the end of this clip (esp. 5:25-5:30). This is nicely done.

[yourehavingalarf]

Awesome.

[agirlforbryn]

Oh my goodness...Furlanetto is my favorite Leporello, but Bryn's is kind of a wonderful reflection of the Don. Given an opportunity on his own, he's as menacing, dark and disdainful as his master. That end part was pretty interesting. I still dislike this production visually - a bit bland - but a good Leporello.

[nnmakowska]

If I had been Donna Elvira I would have kicked such a Leporello you know where...

[wartburg88]

Terel is one of best Leporello's ever.  He does a great Figaro as well.

[oOFleurDeLisOo]

Bryn is just excellent!