“Don Giovanni” in Montpellier: The Timeless Myth of Seduction Sets the Opéra Berlioz Ablaze
This spring, Montpellier celebrates one of the greatest masterpieces of the operatic repertoire. From May 24 to 31, the Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier Occitanie presents Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Don Giovanni, with a libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte, directed by Agnès Jaoui.
A fascinating and profoundly modern work, Don Giovanni continues, more than two centuries after its premiere, to exert a magnetic hold on audiences. Exploring themes of desire, power, excess, and downfall, Mozart composed an opera of rare intensity in which the music illuminates the full complexity of human nature.
A Mythical Character at the Heart of the Opera
Inspired by the myth of Don Juan, popularized in particular by Molière, Don Giovanni has stood the test of time without ever losing his symbolic power. A provocative seducer who defies both social conventions and divine laws, he intrigues as much as he unsettles.
But it is precisely this ambiguity that gives the work its richness. In Mozart and da Ponte’s hands, the character is never reduced to a mere libertine: he becomes a universal figure, driven by an almost dizzying energy. The score then alternates with virtuosity between moments of lightheartedness, dramatic tension, and emotional depth, bringing laughter and darkness together in a striking balance.
In this new production, Agnès Jaoui brings a perspective to the work that is both subtle and deeply human. Her staging succeeds in preserving all of Don Giovanni‘s theatrical and comic dimensions while revealing the characters’ fragility and contradictions. Far from a rigid interpretation, this contemporary take restores Mozart’s opera to its full modernity.
A Shared Commitment to Culture
As patrons of the Montpellier Occitanie National Opera and Orchestra, conductors Jacques and Laurent Pourcel have always maintained a close connection to artistic creation and Montpellier’s cultural influence. This commitment to fostering a dialogue between heritage, art, and the art of living finds its natural expression at the Hôtel Richer de Belleval. Located in the heart of the historic center, just a few steps from the Opera, the hotel is fully immersed in the cultural vibrancy that animates the city.
Enjoying a performance of Don Giovanni is also an opportunity to extend your Montpellier experience with an elegant interlude: stroll through the narrow streets of the Écusson district before the curtain rises, savor the buzz of spring evenings, and then return to the hushed tranquility of the Hôtel Richer de Belleval after the excitement of the performance.
A timeless work to (re)discover
A Timeless Masterpiece With Don Giovanni, Mozart delivers a complete work—as spectacular as it is intimate—that continues to challenge our times with astonishing modernity. With its bursts of laughter, dramatic tension, and musical beauty, this opera remains a deeply vivid experience. Worth (re)discovering
A major production to discover this May in Montpellier at the Opéra Berlioz – Corum, with four performances: Sunday, May 24; Tuesday, May 26; Friday, May 29; and Sunday, May 31.
