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"Don Giovanni"

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote "Don Giovanni," although this story had been around in various forms before Mozart's version. While its libretto was written by Lorenzo da Ponte, Da Ponte had adapted it from one of Moliere's stories.

"Don Giovanni" opened for the first time in the Landes Theater of Prague in 1787. Although Prague loved it immediately, the opera did not catch on in Vienna for a number of years after its premiere. Most consider it Mozart's greatest opera, as its complex, dexterous music conveys the entire range of human emotion.

Synopsis of "Don Giovanni"

The opera opens in 17th-century Spain. A man named Leporello complains outside a palace about the hard life he leads. He is a servant of an immoral noble named Don Juan Giovanni. Just then, his employer appears, wearing a mask and being chased by Donna Anna, who is the daughter of the palace's owner. She cries that he tried to seduce her. Her father, the Commendatore, then challenges Giovanni to a duel during which the Commendatore is killed. When Anna returns with her fiancé Don Ottavio, she finds her father's body and forces Ottavio to swear vengeance on Giovanni.

"Don Giovanni" the Seducer

Early the next morning, Giovanni strikes up a flirtation with a nervous woman outside a pub. He discovers she is a former conquest of his named Elvira, who just happens to be his wife. Elvira, a citizen of a town named Burgos, is looking for Giovanni, but Leporello distracts her by listing all the women Giovanni has seduced; meanwhile his employer runs.

At this point, a group of peasants come on the scene, celebrating the wedding of Zerlina and Masetto, two of their own. Giovanni joins the group and tries to seduce Zerlina. Masetto is angered by Giovanni's presumption, but Leporello takes Masetto away. While they are alone, Giovanni attempts to charm Zerlina, but Elvira interrupts his efforts and takes her away. When she comes back, she tries to denounce Giovanni as a vile seducer, but he is in the middle of saying hello to Anna and Ottavio. He calls Elvira a madwoman and leaves, but not before Anna recognizes his voice as her attacker's.

Disguise and Betrayal

Giovanni gets dressed for a feast he has made for Zerlina and Masetto. He downs champagne happily while preparing.

Outside, Zerlina pleads with Masetto to forgive her for appearing unfaithful. Giovanni comes out and escorts the pair inside. Elvira, Anna and Ottavio come disguised. Leporello invites them inside.

Later, Leporello switches cloaks with Giovanni so that he can seduce Elvira instead of Giovanni doing so. While he distracts Elvira, Giovanni sings to her maid. At that point, Masetto and several other peasants, armed and bent on revenge, begin looking for Giovanni so they can punish him. Giovanni gives them false directions and then beats up Masetto. Afterwards, Masetto searches for Giovanni and thinks he finds him with Elvira in a hallway. Leporello, scared of Masetto's threats, tears off his mask and runs. Elvira, realizing she has been betrayed once more, reacts with rage.

The End of "Don Giovanni"

Leporello finds Giovanni at a cemetery. A voice speaks in the darkness, warning Giovanni of his upcoming doom. It turns out the voice comes from a statue of Anna's father, the Commendatore. Giovanni forces Leporello to invite the statue for dinner. When the servant reluctantly complies, the statue accepts the invitation.

Later, Giovanni is eating dinner when Elvira storms in, begging him to reform before it's too late. He reacts with scorn. As she leaves, she begins screaming: The statue has arrived. Giovanni, still refusing to repent, dies a fiery death from mysterious flames that burn the palace to the ground.

In the middle of the ruins, the other characters make plans for their future and shake their head over Giovanni's death. They declare that "such is the fate of a wrongdoer."

Resources

Freeman, John W. (2007). Stories of the Opera Don Giovanni. Retrieved December 12, 2007 from the Metropolitan Opera Web site: http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/history/stories/

synopsis.aspx?id=14.

Music With Ease (2005). Don Giovanni An Opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Retrieved December 14, 2007 from the Music with Ease Web site: http://www.musicwithease.com/mozart-don-giovanni.html.

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