Mozart masterpiece comes to West Bay Opera stage Mozart masterpiece comes to West Bay Opera stage (May 12, 2004)

By Renee Batti
Almanac News Editor

The story of the legendary libertine Don Juan, set to the music of Mozart, will be told on the West Bay Opera stage the last two weekends of May.

Don Giovanni will be staged May 21-23 and 28-30 at the Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto. It will be sung in Italian, with English supertitles.

David Sloss is music director, and Kenneth Tigar the stage director.

With Don Giovanni , Mozart retold the Don Juan story with a masterful play of lightness and darkness -- and music of extraordinary brilliance. Giovanni's quest to seduce any woman who strikes his fancy, from pretty peasants to proud noblewomen, provides a convoluted, though lively, storyline.

The tireless Giovanni vexes his manservant, prevails against angry fathers and lovers, and generally succeeds in having his way with the world until, in the final scene, he gets his comeuppance -- or perhaps "comedownance" is a more fitting description of his fate.

Kirk Eichelberger will sing the role of Don Giovanni. Donna Anna will be sung by Shana Blake Hill, and the role of Donna Elvira will be shared by Elizabeth Caballero and Lori Decter.

Other singers and their roles are: Kimarie Torre, Zerlina; Nikolaus Schiffmann, Masetto; Todd Robinson, Leporello; Todd Wilander, Don Ottavio; and Paul Thompson, Il Commendatore.

Friday and Saturday performances are at 8 p.m.; Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m. The Lucie Stern Theatre is at 1305 Middlefield Road.

Tickets are $43. For Sunday performances only, youth under 18 can buy tickets for $21.50. A $2 handling fee is applied to each ticket.

For tickets or information, call the West Bay Opera box office at 424-9999 Monday through Friday from 1 to 6 p.m.; or log on at www.wbopera.org. Tickets may also be purchased at the Holt Building, 221 Lambert Ave. in Palo Alto.

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