Seductive, Defiant, Electrifying: Gordon Bintner’s Don Giovanni Captivates Critics
24/9/2026
“Gordon Bintner’s rakish Don was certainly defiant; a testy tinder-box who can also turn on the charm. Bintner sang in this production at Canadian Opera Company two years ago and looked completely at ease here. His baritone both snarled and seduced, the Champagne Aria a manic trip, his Serenade cooing…” — Bachtrack, September 2026
Canadian bass-baritone Gordon Bintner is back at Royal Ballet & Opera as Mozart’s notorious lothario Don Giovanni, dramatically compelling in Kasper Holton’s dizzying production. Stefano Montanari conducts performances through 15 October 2026 and you can read more from the critics below. Don Giovanni – The Royal Opera. A fabulous season ahead for Bintner includes returning to Opéra national de Paris as Albert in their new Werther, making his debut at The Metropolitan Opera as Papageno in The Magic Flute, and heading home to Canadian Opera Company for the world premiere of Ian Cusson’s Empire of Wild.
“Holten sees the Don as a damaged creature, a husk desperate to fill the void in himself. But he begins as the masterful seducer, played here by Gordon Bintner with a velvety voice, and a languid grace like one of those Whistler portraits of an American plutocrat.” — Telegraph, September 2026
“Singing in the titular role is Canadian bass-baritone Gordon Bintner. He possessed great presence in this role and strutted around with suitable authority and haughtiness. He was entirely convincing as the licentious lothario, acting with arrogant fearlessness. He has a splendid, malt-rich instrument which he amply displays in his keynote “Champagne aria,” “Fin ch’han dal vino,” but adopts a soft, melting tone of much beauty later where he sings the canzonetta “Deh, vieni alla finestra” in his seduction of the maid of his former lover, Donna Elvira.” — OperaWire, September 2026
“Gordon Bintner plays Giovanni as a jaded Lothario, his bass-baritone at its ringing best when singing full out.” — The Guardian, September 2026
“The production has travelled energetically since its premiere, including a run at the COC in 2024. Gordon Bintner sang the lead then too, and it’s a role for which he’s brilliantly well-suited. The cast was marvellous. Bintner ranged from whispery, seductive tenderness to shameless, brassy braggaccio…” Opera Canada, September 2026
“His singing is smooth and his physicality assured.” — London Theatre, September 2026
