IU Opera Theater presents 'Don Giovanni' this weekend

This weekend, IU Opera Theater will present "Don Giovanni," a Mozart masterwork said to be one of the greatest operas ever written, according to the Jacobs School of Music Web site.\nThis drama giocoso, meaning "playful drama" or "tragic comedy" in Italian, is based on the legendary Spanish tale of Don Juan. Don Giovanni is a lustful man who engages in episodic conquests of seducing women for nothing more than his own gratification. Giovanni is as easily loathed as is he is adored, as his malicious intentions are contrary to his irresistible charm.\n"Don Giovanni is a metaphor of the futility of the human condition," said Christian Capocaccia, IU graduate student and the production's Italian diction coach. "This opera is connected to Mozart's life and personality. He was very much like Giovanni."\nAmong Mozart's many magnificent pieces regularly performed around the world, Don Giovanni is probably the most favored and commonly performed opera, said IU graduate student Sian Davies, who plays Donna Anna in the Sept. 22 and 30 performances of the production.\n"It is a rare opportunity for students to be given the chance to put on a production as pristine as Don Giovanni," said IU graduate student Austin Kness, who plays Don Giovanni in the Sept. 22 and 30 performances. "Don Giovanni is one of the most recognized operas. It has been in production for three centuries, which hardly ever happens."\nThe opera's longevity is no accident, Davies said.\n"It's a timeless story that is applicable to common day," Davies said. "People can relate to the characters." \nDavies said Director David Effron and conductor Tito Capobianco add a distinctive touch to this particular production. \n"They support each other fully, which doesn't always happen," Davies said. "The combination of the two of them make this experience very special and unusual." \nCapocaccia said working with the duo was a unique experience.\n"They have extreme expectations. They made this production the best it could possibly be," he said. \nThe IU Opera Theater's production of Don Giovanni will play at the Musical Arts Center on Sept. 22, 23, 29 and 30. Showtime will be at 8:00 p.m., and ticket prices range from $15-$35 for adults and $10-$20 for students with a valid student ID. All audience members are invited to attend the pre-show "Opera Insights" lecture, held in the Musical Arts Center lobby an hour before each performance.