Licentiousness, murder and revenge ? elements guaranteed to produce a story that is irresistible. Add Mozart to the equation and it cannot fail.

This year, The Bermuda Festival has brought the Opera a la Carte Company from the UK to the City Hall Theatre to perform the tale of the wicked seducer Don Giovanni, and last night's audience was an enormously appreciative one. With good reason ? the stage set was minimal, but with high, weather-softened walls, thick climbing vines and citrus trees it was a beautiful representation of an Italian scene, while the costumes were typically 18th century and the opera itself an entertaining romp through this "drama giocoso," a serious comedy, as Mozart called it.

Opera a la Carte made extremely full use of the theatre itself ? freely entering and exiting though the main doors of the theatre, appearing in the Mayor's box and wondering through the aisles. The musical accompaniment was a lone pianist, which at first I thought would be a disappointment ? I would have loved to had heard Mozart's orchestral score ? but in the end it did not detract from the opera at all. In fact, pianist Peter Bailey received particularly enthusiastic applause for the enormous job that he undertook, and because he acquitted himself so well.

The story of Don Giovanni is a shocking one even today ? a licentious man whose conquests number in the thousands, and who stops at nothing ? even murder ? to add to that tally.

As the opera opens, we are witnessing the end game, as it were, of this despicable man's career. Colin Campbell played the role with all the nonchalance the role requires, and imbued it with a certain charm that makes his successes understandable.

His servant, Leporello ? played by Jochem Van Ast, whose fresh and spirited performance was a highlight last evening ? tries his best with his incorrigible master, warning the beautiful Donna Elvira of Don Giovanni's innumerable conquests, and then warning his master about his behaviour and the need to start afresh.

We meet several of Don Giovanni's love interests as he upends their lives and existing relationships, beginning with Donna Anna, performed by Katri Paukkunen, whom he attempts to seduce in the opening scenes.

Her father attempts to see off Don Giovanni, but is murdered for his efforts. Ms Paukkunen's pure soprano voice worked well here, as Donna Anna struggled with her anguish and anger over her father's murder, and insists on revenge.

Donna Elvira, the unfaithful Don Giovanni's lover, played by Caroline Childe, has in contrast a warm mezzo, which was lovely to hear, and well suited this more romantic role.

As the story progresses, Don Giovanni even stoops to seduce a bride, Zerlina, in the midst of her preparations to marry.

Despite the overlying light and comedic nature of this opera, there's plenty of food for thought. During the second half, Don Giovanni's servant struggles with his disapproval of his master's behaviour and even attempts to leave him. But Leporello succumbs to temptation twice ? Don Giovanni pays him to stay on, and then the two swap clothes, allowing Leporello to seduce Donna Elvira while his master goes after her maid.

Thus, the conscience of the piece is guilty of precisely the same behaviour that he himself condemns.

Ultimately, Don Giovanni becomes a ghost story, with the return of Donna Anna's father, who appears as a spectre and ultimately provides Don Giovanni with his reward ? a descent into hell.

And so morality wins the day, and the story ends happily.

The audience was enthralled with this production ? it was sung in Italian, and a complex story-line made it a challenge but Opera a la Carte met it with aplomb, (assisted, I am quite sure, by the superb synopsis in the programme) and gave a wonderfully entertaining and memorable performance.