Pynarello
John Giovanni – an absurdist rock ’n’ roll opera starring Michiel Romeyn
From 11 to 21 November 2025, we toured the Netherlands with John Giovanni: an absurdist rock ’n’ roll opera that gives Mozart’s masterpiece Don Giovanni a radical makeover. With Dorona Alberti (Gare du Nord) and Jim van der Zee (The Voice of Holland) live on stage, and Michiel Romeyn (Jiskefet) appearing on the big screen, the production brings together classical music, rock, satire and film.
One moment, you hear Mozart’s music from Don Giovanni in all its classical beauty – those famous melodies that send shivers down your spine. The next, the same music tears through the hall like a rock hurricane, with drums, bass guitar and screaming saxophone. The famous opening hits even harder than it did in 1787, while Deh Vieni alla Finestra transforms from a seductive mandolin serenade into a blistering guitar solo.
“A few years ago, I attended a performance of Mozart’s opera La clemenza di Tito by MusicAeterna, conducted by Teodor Currentzis, who dresses like a punk. Visually, that already wrong-foots you. The ensemble improvised a lot and it really had a groove. Until then, I had no idea there was so much rock in Mozart! Around that time, one pop star after another – including Ali B, Marco Borsato and R. Kelly – was being cancelled, and that gave me the idea of Don Giovanni, a historical #MeToo figure, but reimagined as a sleazy present-day John, played by Michiel Romeyn.”