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Don Giovanni
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
January 22nd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th - 2002
"The glorious music of Mozart makes magnificent drama of the legend of Don Juan." |
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Act One
It is late at night, outside the Commendatore's palace. Don Giovanni has stolen into the house to seduce Donna Anna. His servant, Leporello, waits outside. Suddenly, Donna Anna rushes out, crying for help; this wakes her father, who challenges the masked intruder to a duel. The Commendatore is killed; Don Giovanni and Leporello
escape unrecognized. Anna returns with her fiancé, Don Ottavio, who swears to avenge the Commendatore’s murder. Don Giovanni resumes his escapades at dawn. He and Leporello discover a woman who turns out to be Donna Elvira, one of the Don’s previous conquests, who is determined to win him back or exact revenge. Leporello warns Elvira that she is just one amongst thousands of the Don’s conquests. A group of peasants rrive, celebrating the engagement of Masetto and Zerlina. Giovanni quickly fixes his attention upon Zerlina and arranges to be alone with her.When Elvira discovers Don Giovanni with Zerlina, however, she whisks the girl
away. Don Giovanni encounters Anna and Ottavio on the street. Anna recognizes her seducer and describes to
Ottavio the events of the previous evening. In the attempt to seduce Zerlina, Giovanni plans an elaborate wedding feast at his home. All of the peasants are invited. When all of the guests have arrived — Elvira, Anna and Ottavio included — Leporello distracts Masetto while Giovanni makes his advances on Zerlina. When her cries for help are heard, Giovanni is discovered.He tries to blame Leporello, but no one is convinced. Elvira, Anna and Ottavio unmask and confront Giovanni.
Act Two
Leporello and his master have exchanged cloaks. Leporello, disguised as Giovanni, woos Elvira, freeing Giovanni to serenade Elvira’s maid. Giovanni is interrupted by a band of armed peasants, including Masetto, bent on revenge. Giovanni, still disguised as Leporello, gives them false directions and then beats up Masetto. Zerlina arrives and consoles her betrothed. Meanwhile, Anna, Ottavio, Zerlina and Masetto discover the disguised Leporello and Elvira. Leporello reveals his identity and then escapes. Ottavio renews his vow to
redress the wrongs committed by Don Giovanni. Elvira, on the other hand, decides to give him one more chance.
Leporello meets up with his master in a cemetery, where a voice warns Giovanni of his doom. The pair realize
the voice is coming from the tomb of the Commendatore. The Don invites the Commendatore’s memorial statue to dinner, and the statue accepts. Back at the Don’s home, Leporello is serving dinner when Elvira rushes in
begging the Don, whom she still loves, to reform. He dismisses her. As she departs, her screams announce the arrival of Commendatore. Giovanni boldly refuses warnings to repent and meets his demise. The other characters, on learning of the Don’s fate, tell us that “Such is the end of a Sinner.”
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