Model, Don Giovanni

Staged 2014, Royal Opera House, London, UK

“The first question any team asks when adventuring into the morality myth of Don Giovanni is: how will we represent hell? Director Kasper Holten and I determined that, if the ultimate expression of life is liberty, then hell is the closing of doors and corridors and the end of choice. We materialized the long list of Giovanni’s lovers into an often overcrowded, revolving, multistory structure full of stairs and corridors. The model at right was an early exploration of labyrinthine stair forms.”

—Es Devlin

Detailed drawing of a rectilinear path winding away toward a small figure in a dress. Handwritten text fills the path and also surrounds the drawing.
Es Devlin, Study, Don Giovanni, Graphite on paper.
By Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, staged 2014, Royal Opera House, London, UK
Courtesy of Es Devlin
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Rectangular structure with two levels sits in a black room. The structure is decorated with architectural elements like doors and windows that are projected onto the surfaces with white and blue light.
Production photograph, Don Giovanni
By Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, staged 2014, Royal Opera House, London, UK
Courtesy of Es Devlin
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A person with a spotlight shining on them stands in a doorway. Below them another spotlit person stands on a stage. Both are surrounded by handwritten text and lines that overlap each other and contrast the black background.
Production photograph, Don Giovanni
By Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, staged 2014, Royal Opera House, London, UK
Courtesy of Es Devlin
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A person with a spotlight shining on them has their arms and legs extended in a doorway. Spinning rectilinear elements in white, blue, and some green circle the person in a dizzying display.
Production photograph, Don Giovanni
By Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, staged 2014, Royal Opera House, London, UK
Courtesy of Es Devlin
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White rectangular model made of repeating layered staircases at different angles; two small figures are standing on different staircases.
Es Devlin, Model, Don Giovanni, Cardstock, foam core, MDF, and LED, recreated for exhibition.
By Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, staged 2014, Royal Opera House, London, UK
Photo: Elliot Goldstein © Smithsonian Institution
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White model for a stage design with a person’s arm and hand in the foreground showing scale. The model is made of repeating layered staircases at different angles and small figures walking along them; a glowing light illuminates the model from within.
Es Devlin, Study model, Don Giovanni, Cardstock and foam core.
By Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, staged 2014, Royal Opera House, London, UK
Courtesy of Es Devlin
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Detailed drawing of a horizontal structure with several floors; several staircases are shown with small figures throughout for scale. Handwritten notes surround the drawing.
Es Devlin, Study, Don Giovanni, Graphite on paper.
By Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, staged 2014, Royal Opera House, London, UK
Courtesy of Es Devlin
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Detailed drawing of a large rectangle and smaller rectangle within it depicting three figures: one at an open door and one in a dress following the third figure down a staircase. Handwritten notes surround the drawing.
Es Devlin, Study, Don Giovanni, Graphite on paper.
By Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, staged 2014, Royal Opera House, London, UK
Courtesy of Es Devlin
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