Don Giovanni — Director's note

Working on this production of Don Giovanni has been similar to meeting up with a trusted and much loved family friend who has come for an extended visit. You are comfortable in their company and there are many shared experiences to reflect upon, but still more to learn of the friend than you had realised.

Over time, Patricia has performed the roles of Elvira and Anna, our older daughter Carolyn has sung Elvira in a performance of scenes, and our younger daughter Amanda recently sang Anna in Bahrain. My earliest experience of the work was as a teenager, being captivated by a student performance at the Sydney Conservatorium.

As a repetiteur with the Australian Opera (as it was then titled) I worked Don Giovanni with a variety of conductors and stage directors, all of whom brought their own stamp to the piece, and who have collectively influenced my understanding of the opera.

The word 'opera' simply means 'works' — the plural of 'opus'. As a not‑for‑profit organisation, the Canberra Academy of Music and Related Arts (CAMRA) does not have the funds to pay for the quantity and quality of work that has gone into this production. We have had to rely on community goodwill — and there has been plenty forthcoming. Our personal thanks go to everyone on the acknowledgement list. The smallest job is vital to the smooth running of a performance.

To the cast and the crew, our thanks to you for the commitment you have brought to this hefty undertaking. To you, the audience, whether experiencing Don Giovanni for the first or the thousand and third time, it is our hope that you find Da Ponte's and Mozart's masterpiece the richly rewarding experience it deserves to be.

Colin Forbes, Director

July 2013