Nella contemporaneità del teatro. Note su Robert Carsen regista di “Don Giovanni”

The figure of famous Canadian director Robert Carsen is set in the framework of the international opera renewal that, starting the 1980s, was produced by the increased relevance taken on by staging and, in particular, by the systematic contribution of theatre directors. This paper highlights the technical, practical and creative resources that Carsen considers essential to his work and that seem to be perfectly exemplified through a theatrological analysis of some scenes from his Mozart’s Don Giovanni, staged in Milan at Teatro alla Scala in 2011. The paper refers, in particular, to the narrative and acting processes, found in the libretto, that constitute the basis for the singers’ performance, to the principles that regulate the construction of characters, to the special function of scenography in revealing their sentiments, to the reflexive investigations on theatre-within-theatre, to the important role assigned to the spectator. Through these, Carsen seems to achieve an aesthetics of representation capable to grant him with a creative and responsible directorial freedom while respecting the strict necessities of the libretto and the music.