Big Success

It was a great success last night, after a frantic twelve days.  We have been so involved in the preparations that we have no idea if something will work or not, and so to present something for the first time in a new hall is very much an act of faith...  As the last notes of the finale rang out the sold-out deSingel crowd of 940 leapt to their feet and applauded uproariously... something that I have never seen before in an Antwerp audience.  It's true that European audiences seem to applaud with special vigour and for long periods, but standing ovations of ten minutes are a rarity here.

At the reception afterwards I was happy to break out my kilt to show solidarity with Bart, our conductor, and Korneel, our staging director, the two "Ministers" of the production, as Korneel envisioned.  Here we are above, with Liesbeth, who played Zerlina, to the right of the photo.  Why kilts?  I will post some photographs if they become available, but to may mind the clothing designs were mythologically inspired, with some greek elements (Donna Elvira's dress for example) and other celtic touches, like the kilts worn by some of the male chorus and the two ministers pictured above.  As well there was a strong animalistic element; Don Giovanni has two long bull's horns, which he uses as swords, drinking vessels, telescopes, etc. and the Commendatore has a helmet with ram's horns and another horn on his right hand; the duel scene involves a literal locking of horns before the Commendatore is killed.  Horns are of course a symbol of infidelity, and of sexual potency.

There are many operatic stereotypes being referenced; a spear and horned helmet (à la Wagner), a woman dressed as Helen of Troy, the use of the bull/toreador image are some obvious examples.  Also the transparent presentation of the technical aspects of the production reminds me of other shows "about a show", like Ariadne auf Naxos or Pagliacci, or the very funny comedy play Noises Off.  One might think that being on stage for the whole opera would be tiring, and it is, but an interesting side-effect is that one has time to get completely comfortable there, under the uninterrupted gaze of the audience.

It was a very trying performance; a number of the cast were singing sick, Britt Truyts (our Elvira), and myself among them, so now we have a couple of days off to rest and recover before the BOZAR performance on Wednesday.  I hope to be in better health by then, and look forward to the boys and Maggie seeing the production as well...