REVIEW: Don Giovanni takes Alice Springs

Where else in the world can you sit in Row 5 of a concert venue and see some of the best performers in one of the best operas ever written for the same price as that Chinese takeaway I had for dinner a few nights earlier (not to mention drink a glass of red while you’re watching it)?

I've been living in Alice Springs for over six years and I've seen three operas, two ballets, two Moscow Circus visits, an Archibald-winning art exhibition, not to mention all the local exhibits, performances and art films that pass through this remote desert town: Everyone, it seems, wants a piece of Alice.

But nothing stands out more in a dusty desert town than the art of opera with its drama, singing, acting, costumes, music – who could ask for more in one art form?

Among the characters you most want to meet (though maybe not on your own in a dark alley) is Don Giovanni, so as soon as I heard Oz Opera was heading to town I bought a ticket.

If you know nothing about opera, it might be tempting to think that opera stars are all old, fat Italian men and women who've been eating too much lasagne for too long so when one of Mozart’s most enduring and beloved of operas about a scoundrel womaniser and his sidekick Leperello began in Alice Springs it was clear the vibrant, young Alice was going to be added to Don Giovanni’s list of conquests.

And far from being old, fat Italian blokes, we were treated to the gorgeousness of Christopher Hillier and Tom Hamilton in the two main roles, with the incredible soprano voice of Celeste Lazarenko to add some gravitas to the jokers (if only they knew what was coming their way).

The choruses were magnificent, the sets and 1950s costumes stylish and beautiful, all the soloists were fantastic and the orchestra and director worked hard to wrap an entire orchestral piece into one chamber music performance - far too many notes for so few musicians, but by golly, they were good. The art of a good accompaniment is to play so well you’re not noticed and this they did, ironically, with great panache.

As a professional classical violinist it’s always been hard for me to be an audience member and not a performer, picking to pieces the bits that weren't quite the way they were supposed to be – but Oz Opera’s Don Giovanniprovided a fantastic night out; a relief from the stresses of daily life; some great performances, great art and of course the incomparable music of WA Mozart in which you’d have to be soulless not to lose yourself.

We all laughed at Leperello's jokes and his talent for physical comedy, rolled our eyes and groaned together at the naivety of Zerlina and gasped at The Don’s shocking end.

The strength of Christopher Hillier's performance was played out when he got booed by the audience at the curtain call for being such a cad: Christopher, we meant it in the nicest possible way, you understand.

Thank you so much for adding Alice to your list and please, please, please come again.