Pynarello’s John Giovanni

Meet John Giovanni, a rock star with humor and a touch of absurdist boldness. Through a film projection, John, played by Michiel Romeyn, tells his story – that of a rebellious and charismatic rock star who conquers the world with his electrifying music and seductive aura. He sweeps women off their feet with his roaring voice, but his wild lifestyle leads to a turbulent confrontation. In this opera, Mozart’s classical notes are given a bold twist. The classical music sometimes sounds in its original beauty, but at other times, it is transformed into an overwhelmingly audacious rock version. The ensemble of Pynarello consists of a small group of classical string and wind players, collaborating with singers Jim van der Zee and Dorona Alberti.

Pynarello is known for reinterpreting iconic classical works in a new way, without a conductor and without sheet music. In the fall of 2025, it’s time for the next step: for the first time, Pynarello will tackle an opera. John Giovanni is an absurdist rock ‘n’ roll version of Mozart’s opera. Mozart was a musical genius, and at the same time, a maverick who played tricks on himself and others. His operas were, in their time, the hottest combination of humor and drama. Pynarello’s goal is to bring his absurdist spirit back to life.

Program

Based on Don Giovanni by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart