As humans, no two athletes, actors, or dancers perform exactly alike. Even when presenting the same role, two similar actors produce two profoundly different atmospheres, resonating into an entirely different experience for the viewer. When Peter Mattei was called in by Director Michael
Grandage to fill in for the injured baritone Mariusz Kwiecien, the Met gave birth to another Don Giovanni. As a last minute substitute, Mettei delivered stellar performances, comparable to Kweicien’s, (which we will see Nov 7) now that he is back on his feet. Each performer, with different styles, present two different sides of the same character. Mattei, towering at 6′ 4” was a more brash, unrestrained Don, while Kwiecien presents a furtive Giovanni unsatisfied with those around him, merely looking for excitement and stimulation.
One critic even noted the effect of each actor’s height in relation to Leporello. Kwiecien is a Don Giovanni who a bit shorter than his servant, while Mattei towered over his, providing alternatives to the way each found ways to assert their authority and desires.
Of course, the director also makes all the difference. After reviewing several critics’ opinion regarding recent New York productions of this famous opera, Grangade’s version has been described as a more traditional one when compared to Christopher Alden’s 2009 radically “sexy, modern production.” However, Grandage’s version is beautifully supplemented by Fabio Luisi’s skillful musical direction, as he heavily involves himself in the performance by providing accompaniments on the harpsichord, controlling the flow of the entire show. It will be an exciting performance to watch in two weeks.
I am responding to this very interesting post after we have already seen the production. I have to say that I thought the singing was really good, but Giovanni was not as impressive as I thought he would be. I think he was still suffering from his injury. I don’t think we saw on stage the fiery presence that was being written about. this is just another example of the high wire act that is live performance. Being a successful performer is like being a star athlete. You are constantly training and you are constantly “on.” The difference is that there is no “off season” for a tenor, or a violinist!