If the mission of New York City Opera is to find and nurture young talent, then Christopher Alden's surprisingly ascetic new production of Mozart's Don Giovanni is a resounding success. Six of the eight principal singers here are making their company debuts, and their effect can be summed up in one word: Wow!

Daniel Okulitch as the compulsively womanizing title character has a resonating bass-baritone, forceful in all registers. Lean and hungry-looking, he's authoritative as a man who might have benefited from a 12-step group, had one been available to him at the time.

Stefania Dovhan's severely wronged Donna Anna infuses her singing throughout with light and dark colors; soprano Joelle H[...]