Don Giovanni, Covent Garden - review

The casting for this revival (by Duncan MacFarland) presented an opportunity for one or two less familiar names, though Finley is back, in good vocal (and physical) shape. He brings undeniable sensual allure (as heard, for example, in his serenading of Elvira), though it's a charm that's underpinned by an almost savage animal energy - there was even a bit of a growl in the Champagne Aria.

In Là ci darem, his attempted seduction of Zerlina, the leisurely tempo wonderfully brought out both Giovanni's cajoling and Zerlina's guiltily reluctant yielding to temptation. Indeed, Constantinos Carydis's conducting, though idiosyncratic, nearly always produced gratifying results. His accompaniment of Don Ottavio's Il mio tesoro, for example, was fluid and delectably light of touch, helping to make Ottavio a far more interesting character than usual. Matthew Polenzani's singing, sensitive but robust at the same time, enhanced that impression.

But so did Zambello's direction here, when Giovanni's three female victims are seen momentarily huddled together on top of the all-purpose circular structure, studded with Madonnas, watering-cans and goodness knows what, that serves as backdrop for most of the action (sets by Maria Bjornson). There's a similar moment of sisterly solidarity during Elvira's Mi tradì, when Donna Anna and Zerlina console her and prevent her suicide. Hibla Gerzmava's Anna may not be effortless but it's often very expressive, while Lorenzo Regazzo is a dependable Leporello.   

Zambello doesn't baulk at highlighting Elvira's hysterical tendencies but her production is in any case a far from unambiguous feminist critique. The flirtatiousness of Zerlina (winningly sung and played by Irini Kyriakidou) is transmuted into something both tender and credible - what lover wouldn't forgive this innocent little pussycat?

And how are we to take the all-girl band Giovanni hires for the ball? Are they liberated professionals or eye-candy? Certainly the very subtitle of the opera, "The Libertine Punished", is questioned by the final cameo of Giovanni in hell but still enjoying himself. Giovanni's behaviour is not so easily contained, it seems.

Until February 29 (020 7304 4000, roh.org.uk)

Don Giovanni