This reworking of the opera into dance three years ago was a critical and popular success. It is now part of the company's repertoire and is on through October and two days beyond.
Alice and I were able to get good seats for 47 euros the same day, a Saturday and picked the up by 7:30 pm for an 8:15 pm curtain.
The plot is clear enough from the opening death of Donna Anna's father at the hands of Don Giovanni to his closing retribution. The details are familiar to anyone who has seen the great opera on stage or in movie form. However, the plot details in the program on sale for 5 euros at the theater are only in Dutch. A plot outline is here (from the NY Opera Company/Columbia University) to follow every scene.
The dancing and music are energetic and riveting. To appreciate the sustained intensity of both over more than two hours, this should probably not be on your schedule for the first or second night after a transatlantic flight. Three sample scenes with music are available online: (1) the opening scene with fencers (one epee per dancer), in which Donna Anna's father, the Commendatore, is killed, (2) a classic Don Juan seduction (one of several) and (3) the Don's descent to a fiery hell when he is exposed and refuses to repent before the Commendatore. Click here for the sample scenes along with written commentary in English.
To cap it all, we had a fine fish dinner (the dory was especially good, and the matching wine was perfect) at the Sluizer, 41-45 Utrecht St., a ten-minute walk from the MuziekTheater.
