Metropolitan Opera Live’s “Don Giovanni” to be broadcast at the Douglass Theater

A broadcast of the world-renowned opera “Don Giovanni” will come to the Douglass Theatre live and in high definition on Saturday, Oct. 22.

The Italian opera was composed by Mozart, with libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. In conjunction with the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD series, “Don Giovanni” will air live at 12:55 p.m. (EST) from the Lincoln Center in New York, New York.

The opera is based on the Spanish story of Don Juan, a fictional libertine—one devoid of most moral or sexual restraints—and seducing character.

“The opera truthfully examines the “human condition” through the interactions of a cast of country folk, servants, and nobility,” said Richard Kosowski, associate professor of music and director of graduate studies at the Mercer University Townsend School of Music, in an email.

“We have been doing the Metropolitan Opera series for 11 years,” said Gina Ward, director of the Douglass Theatre.

Every year, the Douglass teams up with the Central Georgia Opera Guild to bring the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD series to Macon. Over the next few months, at least one opera will air live from New York at the theater each month.

Ward said that “from year to year, performance to performance,” the event brings a variety of people to the Douglass.

According to Kosowski, this is the “ideal first opera” for people because the story is easy to understand and quite enjoyable.

The Opera Guild usually hosts a champagne intermission for patrons, but at the airing of “Don Giovanni” they will have a concluding reception for all guests of the theater. 

“For this specific [opera], [the Central Georgia Opera Guild] will be celebrating afterwards with wine and hors d'oeuvres . . . It is included with admission,” Ward said.

Additionally, the Douglass, with assistance from the Mercer University Townsend School of Music, has planned for a short opera discussion to take place before the screening begins.

“[Mercer] students enrolled in the Opera History and Literature course that I teach will be leading a pre-performance lecture about the opera performance, providing biographical and historical information,” Kosowski said.

The Douglass is committed to providing the Macon community and surrounding area with a multicultural experience that includes a wide array of annual events.

The theater was founded in 1921 by African American entrepreneur Charles Douglass. It was created as a venue for black entertainers during a time of racial segregation in America.

Since its opening, the venue has been committed to music and film, including screenings of feature-length films and vaudeville performances.

Today, the theater celebrates and serves people of all backgrounds while remembering its heritage.

“Our mission is to develop a range of programming for our community,” Ward said.

Kosowski said that the Opera Guild would love to see more students in attendance.

“Attending cultural and artistic offerings as students, even if they take us out [of] our comfort zone, help us to make informed decisions about the effectiveness of artistic creation and communication,” he said.

Tickets to the screening of “Don Giovanni” are currently on sale. Adult admission is $24 per person, and student and senior admission is $20 per person. Tickets may be purchased directly through the Douglass Theatre.

For more information on “Don Giovanni” live in HD at the Douglass Theatre, visit their website at www.douglasstheatre.org. Additional information can be accessed from the Metropolitan Opera’s official website at www.metopera.org/hdlive.