THIS delightful production of Mozart's Don Giovanni was the first performance by Ryedale Festival Opera, a welcome innovation in this year's programme and one which received a deservedly-enthusiastic reception.

The challenges which Don Giovanni presents to singers and instrumentalists are numerous. The Mozartian ease, naturalness and fluency cannot be achieved without much preparation. All the more credit, therefore, to conductor Malcolm Layfield and his team for the vitality, freshness and sheer polish of the results they achieved.

All eight soloists have significant and demanding roles in Don Giovanni. Last night's singers were admirable whether in recital, aria or ensemble. Kate Brian (Anna), Lee Bissett (Elvira) and Jennifer Lowe (Zerlina) combined musicianship with dramatic power, and there was much to enjoy in the Lepeporello of Marcos Carvalho and in the understated, but effective, presentation of the title role by Richard Strivens.

Malcolm Layfield's direction of his 14-member Goldberg Ensemble was commendably crisp and alert.

Although the overture was not entirely comfortable, the ensemble warmed to its task with the woodwind section, in particular, making a valuable contribution.

Stage direction, by Stefan Janski, made good use of the scope for multiple entrances and exits provided by the Riding School. A raised stage, and a welcome lack of props and clutter, worked well.

Visually and dramatically, even if the use of semi-modern costume sometimes proved a distraction, it was a lively and stimulating approach.

Updated: 12:34 Friday, July 25, 2003