Overview
Synopsis
The famous tale of Don Giovanni centers around the womanizing libertine and his conquests. Don Giovanni sneaks into Il Commendatore’s house, with his side kick, Leporello, standing guard and attempts to rape or seduce his daughter, Donna Anna. Upon fleeing, after Donna Anna screams, Don Giovanni duels with Il Commendatore and kills him, before escaping with Leporello. Devastated, Donna Anna and her betrothed, Don Ottavio vow to discover who killed her father and bring them to justice. Giovanni continues to seduce every women he sees, including a former lover who is on the warpath to bring him to justice for her betrayal, and a peasant girl, Zerlina, on the eve of her wedding to Masetto, until they all band together to bring Don Giovanni to justice. Escaping by throwing Leporello into the array in his place, Leporello threatens to leave Don Giovanni’s side. As Don Giovanni gloats at his escape, the voice of the statue at Il Commendatore’s grave speaks saying “Here am I waiting for revenge against the scoundrel who killed me.” Don Giovanni, unafraid, invites the statue to dinner, laughing off the encounter. Later, during a luxurious meal, ominous knocks are heard at the door. Leporello is frightened and hides, but Giovanni opens the door to find the statue of Il Commendatore. Giovanni is shocked, and refuses his entry, but Il Commendatore demands that he repent for his many sins. Giovanni continues to refuse until the statue disappears and demons come to drag Don Giovanni down to hell. The rest of the cast rejoices and states the moral of the story: “Such is the end of the evildoer: the death of a sinner always reflects his life.”
Show Information
- Music
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Libretto
- Lorenzo Da Ponte
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1787
- Genres
- Drama, Dark Comedy
- Settings
- Multiple Settings, Period
- Time & Place
- 17th century in seville, spain
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- College/University, Professional Opera, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
After Mozart and Da Ponte’s incredible success with Le Nozze di Figaro, Mozart promised his next premiere to the Prague, which turned out to be Don Giovanni. Don Juan was a well-known legendary character known for hypersexuality and womanizing, and therefore was the subject of many plays and operas in the 17th and 18th centuries. Mozart, like a number of composers before him, thought it perfect to be set to music. Lorenzo Da Ponte did his best, as he did with Le Nozze di Figaro, to
to read the context for Don Giovanni and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
Leporello stands guard as he waits for his master, Don Giovanni, and complains about his life as a servant (Notte e giorno faticar). He is the lookout as Don Giovanni sneaks into the Commendatore’s house to attempt to seduce his daughter, Donna Anna, in disguise. Don Giovanni enters, being followed by Donna Anna, who insists that he unmask himself, and eventually screams for help. The Commendatore enters and forces Giovanni into a duel, for the honor of his daughter. Don Giovanni
to read the plot for Don Giovanni and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
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Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
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Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
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|
Lead |
Male |
Bass |
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|
Lead |
Male |
Bass |
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|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
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|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
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|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass |
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Ensemble |
Either Gender |
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Songs
- Overture
Act I
- Introduzione: Notte e giorno faticar (Leporello, Donna Anna, Il Commendatore)
- Recit: Leporello, ove sei? (Don Giovanni)
- Recit and Duet: Ma qual mai s’offre, oh Dei (Donna Anna, Don Ottavio)
- Recit: Orsù, spicciati presto (Don Giovanni)
- Trio: Ah! chi mi dice mai (Donna Elvira, Don Giovanni, Leporello)
- Recit: Chi è là? (Donna Elvira)
- Aria: Madamina! (Leporello)
- Recit: In questa forma dunque (Donna Elvira)
- Duet and Chorus: Giovinette, che fate all’amore (Zerlina, Masetto, Chorus)
- Recit: Manco male, è partita (Don Giovanni)
- Aria: Ho capito (Masetto)
- Recit: Alfin siam liberati, Zerlinetta (Don Giovanni)
- Duettino: Là ci darem la mano (Don Giovanni, Zerlina)
- Recit: Fermati, scellerato! (Donna Elvira)
- Aria: Ah! fuggi il traditor (Donna Elvira)
- Recit: Ma par ch’oggi il demonio si diverta (Don Giovanni)
- Quartet: Non ti fidar, o misera (Donna Elvira, Donna Anna, Don Ottavio, Don Giovanni)
- Recit: Povera sventurata! (Don Giovanni)
- Recit: Don Ottavio, son morta! (Donna Anna)
- Aria: Or sai, che l’onore (Donna Anna)
- Recit: Come mai creder deggio (Don Ottavio)
- Aria: Dalla sua pace (Don Ottavio)
- Recit: Io deggio ad ogni patto (Don Ottavio)
- Aria: Finch’han dal vino (Don Giovanni)
- Recit: Masetto, senti un po’! (Zerlina)
- Aria: Batti, batti, o bel Masetto (Zerlina)
- Recit: Guarda un po’, come seppe questa strega (Masetto)
- Finale: Presto, presto, pria ch’ei venga...Trema, trema, scelerato! (Donna Anna, Zerlina, Donna Elvira, Don Ottavio, Masetto, Leporello, Don Giovanni)
Act II
- Duet: Eh via, buffone, eh via! (Don Giovanni, Leporello)
- Recit: Leporello! (Don Giovanni)
- Trio: Ah, taci, inguisto core (Donna Elvira, Don Giovanni, Leporello)
- Recit: Amico, che ti par? (Don Giovanni)
- Canzonetta: Deh vieni alla finestra (Don Giovanni)
- Recit: V’è gente alla finestra (Don Giovanni)
- Aria: Metà di voi quà vadano (Don Giovanni)
- Recit: Zitto, lascia ch’io senta! (Don Giovanni)
- Aria: Vedrai, carino (Zerlina)
- Recit: Di molte faci il lume s’avvicina (Leporello)
- Sextet: Sola, sola in bujo loco (Donna Elvira, Leporello, Don Ottavio, Donna Anna, Zerlina, Masetto)
- Recit: Dunque quello sei tu (Zerlina)
- Aria: Ah, pietà! Signori miei! (Leporello)
- Recit: Ferma, perfido, ferma! (Donna Elvira)
- Aria: Il mio tesoro intanto (Don Ottavio)
- Recit: Restati, quà! (Zerlina)
- Duet: Per queste tue manine (Leporello, Zerlina)
- Recit: Amico, per pietà (Leporello)
- Recit and Aria: In quali eccessi, o Numi… Mi tradì quell’alma ingrata (Donna Elvira)
- Recit: Ah, questa è buona, or lasciala cercar (Don Giovanni)
- Duet: O statua gentilissima (Leporello, Don Giovanni)
- Recit: Calmatevi, idol mio (Don Ottavio)
- Recit and Aria: Crudele?... Non mi dir, bell’idol mio (Donna Anna)
- Recit: Ah, si segua il tuo passo (Don Ottavio)
- Finale: Già la mensa è preparata… Questo è il fin (Don Giovanni, Leporello, Donna Elvira, Il Commendatore, Zerlina, Don Ottavio, Masetto)
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
Also called “black comedy,” takes a pessimistic view of the world.
A genre of opera common in the mid-18th century which describes the opera's libretto (text). The genre was developed in the Neapolitan opera tradition, mainly through the work of the playwright Carlo Goldoni
The script of the musical, separate from the musical orchestrations.
The notation of music for the musical. There are several types of scores (detailed in the guide).
Videos
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Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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