In June 2017, the Gran Teatre del Liceu presented a new production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Don Giovanni, under the musical direction of Josep Pons. Widely regarded as one of the greatest masterpieces in operatic history, Mozart’s celebrated opera returned to Barcelona in a production of major international significance.
Directed by the Danish stage director Kasper Holten, the production arrived at the Liceu following its success at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London. Moving away from traditional portrayals of the Don Juan legend, Holten explored the protagonist’s psychological complexity, focusing on his obsession with desire, the passing of time and his inability to establish lasting human relationships. Designed by Es Devlin, the staging combined striking visual imagery with video projections, creating one of the most distinctive interpretations of Mozart’s opera in recent years.
The performances featured an outstanding international cast, with Mariusz Kwiecień and Carlos Álvarez alternating in the title role, alongside Anatoli Sivko, Simón Orfila, Carmela Remigio, Vanessa Goikoetxea, Miah Persson, Myrtò Papatanasiu, Julia Lezhneva, Rocío Ignacio, Dmitry Korchak and Toby Spence, among others.
From the orchestra pit, Josep Pons offered a reading distinguished by its clarity of orchestral texture, its balance between stage and orchestra, and its careful attention to Mozart’s dramatic architecture. These performances further strengthened the artistic project developed at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, reaffirming its commitment to the great Mozart repertoire and to collaborations with internationally acclaimed stage productions.