ENO's Don Giovanni condom advert hits low note

English National Opera is under fire after using a provocative double entendre to promote its new production of Don Giovanni.

A billboard advertising campaign depicts a used condom packet and the words: “Don Giovanni. Coming soon.”

A spokeswoman for ENO said: “Given the subject of the piece, the marketing campaign for Rufus Norris’s production reflects the opera itself.

“We wanted an eye-catching ad to promote the opera. We came up with this idea which we think is brilliant, funny and captures the idea of Don G in a witty way.”

The company’s website describes it as “Mozart’s most wickedly seductive opera” and provides the plot summary: “This riveting romp follows the last 24 hours in the life of the legendary Lothario as he lusts his way towards one last hot date with the fires of hell.”

But not everyone is amused. On Twitter, SarahDuggers asked: “Is it really po-faced and prudish to find these billboards really vulgar and not very nice?” @agnesfrim added: “They’re beastly.” AnotENO hits wrong note with condom ad campaignher Twitter user, Justin Smyth, said: “It’s relatively amusing for a second but probably unnecessary and offensive to some.”

Vivienne Pattison, director of Mediawatch-UK, said the ad was clever in itself but contributed to the hyper-sexualisation of society.