From December 4, the Folkwang University of the Arts presents Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Don Giovanni, directed by guest artist Juana Inés Cano Restrepo. Musical direction is entrusted to Folkwang Professor Rodrigo Tomillo, marking his debut concert at the University. The cast and orchestra feature students from across disciplines, while stage design, costumes, and lighting are created by guest artist Eleonora Rodigari.
On the Folkwang stage, all roles are performed by students of the Vocal Studies | Music Theatre program, while musicians from the Instrumental Training program take their places in the orchestra pit. In just six weeks, the students prepare this opera—a cornerstone of the repertoire with countless iconic interpretations. “Beyond the freedom to discover the work for themselves,” notes Cano Restrepo, “the students face further challenges: it is a highly physical piece. During this period, it is essential to build a foundation of trust and mutual respect. Only in this way can we develop and rehearse intimate, sometimes intrusive, and combative situations so that all participants feel able to enact them—or to voice concerns without fear if something goes too far.”
On the musical side, she emphasizes: “Mozart is also extremely demanding, both in the large ensembles and arias, but above all in the brilliant recitatives. Here the students can truly showcase their acting skills, since recitatives require a keen sense of timing, pauses, nuance, precision, and above all the courage to sing less and ‘speak’ more.”
