As I write this, I am listening to a great recording of Don Giovanni which starred Samuel Ramey and cast with the Berlin Philharmonic. Ramey's voice is dark and heavy, making him perfect in the role of Mozart's lothario.
For parents who want to introduce their children to the joys of such music, it can be tough. Short attention spans can derail the best-laid plans.
Sinfinimusic.com has something that might help. Graphic novels, which they call Opera Strips, provide an entertaining, accessible approach to works such as Don Giovanni, complete with links to great recordings, offering an opportunity to introduce your youngsters to the world of opera in a familiar setting.
The Opera Strip for Don Giovanni comes in two parts with great graphics and easy-to-follow dialogue. If you want to go further, I found an on-demand version of the Mozart classic with Ramey in the lead, available free of charge on the Metropolitan Opera site.
There are 20 of these Opera Strips available, thus far, along with a short animation telling the story of Verdi's Madama Butterfly. I hope there are many more to come. Happy listening!
Below, you can see the big finish of Don Giovanni, as he gets his just desserts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dK1_vm0FMAU