Eddie Muliaumaseali'i

The Commendatore is on stage for only a matter of minutes — yet he drives the entire moral architecture of the opera. How do you approach that kind of dramatic weight?

Every role is first about Stamina. The plot or character weight of the role is how you interpret the material. Assassin, Priest, each individual has their own unique approach. But, you have to sing it and sing it well. My answer really is what ever the dramatic role, I make sure I can sing it well. I get two hours off between scenes and the music at the end is the most challenging I have ever sung and that includes Wotan, Osmin, Lepporello and Joe in Showboat.

You play the same character twice — as a living man and as a statue returned from the dead. How do you differentiate those two presences physically and vocally?

In life, you see him as quite fiery as he is fighting the Don so I am at full voice and powerful. But then dies and his voice goes into death throes.

My return is ghostly, haunting but a different kind of power. Not of this earth and backed by hell. So yeah, its an absolute tour de force take no prisoners type of voice.

Darth Vader and Gandalf combo.

The Stone Guest scene is one of opera's truly terrifying moments. What does it feel like to be the instrument of that reckoning?

Pressure is immense. The arrival of the Commendatore is one of Opera's most celebrated events in music history. Mozart genius amassing forces of text, music, then our directors vision, conductor, singers, lighting, everything at this point is huge.

So yeah, its a big sing. And, at the top of the bass register. Its really cool.

In Suzanne's production, justice is a central motif — it has been building all night before you return in that final scene. What do you represent in that moment?

I think its a collective accountability manifestation. The collective being the all. The cast, the audience, the Don, everything. The all. You could start the opera there and it would make sense. The reaper arrival gives the Don the choice. A lot see this as karma, but he is given a choice.

Why does Don Giovanni still resonate with audiences today?

Art resonates with audiences in all eras. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder is the quote I think. In the case of this Opera, we resonate with the human experience to extremes. It makes for a good story. Sorry seems the hardest word to say sometimes.

What do you hope audiences take away from the Commendatore's story?

I feel that they see his story as part of the entire story of the opera.

He bookends the opera. And also that they think his make up is great. Lol