Mortimer, in spite of all the arts of the chemist, placidly refreshes himself with a glass of Madeira, and remains unconscious of the Document which engrosses the general attention, until Lady Tippins (who has a habit of waking totally insensible), having remembered where she is, and recovered a perception of surrounding objects, says: 'Falser man than Don Juan; why don't you take the note from the
commendatore?' Upon which, the chemist advances it under the nose of Mortimer, who looks round at him, and says:
29) associated as strongly with Don Giovanni himself as with the
Commendatore (and held only temporarily at bay by the "worldly affirmation" of the ensuing Allegro).
by her father, the
Commendatore. Don Giovanni kills him in the ensuing fight and Anna's betrothed swears to avenge the death.
Andrea Silvestrelli's
Commendatore was stentorian, while Sarah Shafer and Michael Sumuel were well cast, playing Zerlina and Masetto with youthful vigor.
The Italian government and Embassy recently honored Sunico by conferring on him the
Commendatore (Commander) of the Order of the Star of Italy, an award granted to Italian expats and foreigners who have strengthened ties between Italy and the host country.
At first all the updating, the '70s austere sets, crackling electricity, the
Commendatore's death rattle sights every so often, seem to be just director Rufus Norris having fun.
And this is the entire complement (Wilding also the
Commendatore) -no chorus, an elegant, tiny orchestra, Keith Darlington's conducting natural and shapely.
But in the case of Don Giovanni, it is difficult to detect the seat of any authority in the work: the authoritative figure of the
Commendatore is dispatched, and Don Ottavio makes a poor heir (in both Freudian and political terms).
David Leigh makes the young and vibrant
Commendatore a real character, silently shadowing Don Giovanni and challenging him throughout.
Italian Ambassador Massino Roscigno, in conferring on Raul Sunico the
Commendatore (Commander) of the Order of the Star of Italy, called him 'one of the greatest personalities of the (Philippine) cultural world.'
Following Aida's premiere, Verdi was awarded the title of
Commendatore of the Ottoman Order for his successful production.
The production benefited from an outstanding cast around Gleadow and Bou: Steven Hume's clear timbre was atypical for the
Commendatore, but he was physically imposing and stylistically impeccable; Julien Behr, certainly one of today's best young lyric tenors, was remarkable in the unforgiving role of Don Ottavio, with splendid tone and technique and beautiful phrasing; Julie Boulianne brought a strong stage presence and rich voice with very distinctive colouring to the role of Donna Elvira, her "Ah fuggi il traditor" technically stunning; Myrto Papatanasiu is a distinguished singer with endless capacities both dramatic and vocal, and here was captivating as Donna Anna; and Anna Grevelius and Marc Scoffoni were excellent as the Zerlina/Masetto couple.