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Don Giovanni
Opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Act 1
Leporello, Don Giovanni’s servant, is keeping a lookout
while his master is enjoying himself with Donna Anna.
Anna calls for help. Her father, the commendatore,
challenges Don Giovanni to a duel, in the course of
which he dies.
In the meantime, Donna Anna has fetched her fiancé
Don Ottavio and returns to find her father’s body. She
makes Ottavio swear to avenge the
commendatore’s death.
Don Giovanni is looking for his next adventure. He
recognises the lady he is approaching as Donna Elvira,
who is pursuing him after he has abandoned her. He
leaves it to Leporello to mollify the offended Elvira.
Leporello shows her the catalogue of
Don Giovanni’s love affairs.
At a wedding among the peasantry, Don Giovanni pays
court to the bride, Zerlina, and invites the wedding
party to his palace. Leporello’s job is to distract the
jealous bridegroom Masetto. Donna Elvira prevents
Giovanni from seducing Zerlina.
Donna Anna and Don Ottavio ask Giovanni to help them
find the commendatore’s murderer. Elvira warns them
about Giovanni; he tells them she is not in her right
mind. Anna and Ottavio become mistrustful.
Finally, Anna recognises Giovanni as her father’s
murderer and once again challenges the hesitant
Ottavio to take revenge.
Zerlina asks Masetto to forgive her. At the party in the
palace, however, Don Giovanni continues his seduction
of Zerlina. Masetto’s jealousy increases. Donna Elvira,
Donna Anna and Don Ottavio mingle with the wedding
guests, disguised by masks. Zerlina cries for help,
alarming the other guests. Giovanni accuses Leporello
of being Zerlina’s attacker. The atmosphere becomes
increasingly threatening. The pursuit of the murderer is
under way.
Meanwhile Masetto has gathered together a group of
armed peasants and is on the search for Don Giovanni,
who pretends to be Leporello and sends them off in all
different directions. He remains alone with Masetto
and thrashes him. Zerlina finds Masetto and is
reconciled with him.
Leporello, still in Don Giovanni’s clothes, tries to
escape from Donna Elvira, and comes upon Donna
Anna, Don Ottavio, Zerlina and Masetto. Donna Elvira
begs them to have mercy on her beloved spouse.
Leporello reveals his identity and makes use of the
resulting confusion to make his escape. Don Ottavio
once again affirms that he will take revenge on Don
Giovanni.
Donna Elvira remains behind alone: in spite of all the
harm he has done her, she still loves Don Giovanni and
is anxious for his fate.
Don Giovanni and Leporello meet in a graveyard. Don
Giovanni boasts of his adventures. The statue of the
commendatore approaches him and speaks. Don
Giovanni invites the commendatore to have supper
with him.
Don Ottavio asks Donna Anna for her hand in marriage,
but she rejects him.
Donna Elvira warns Don Giovanni about his impending
doom. The commendatore appears and tries to
persuade Don Giovanni to repent and change his ways.
But Don Giovanni has no regrets and must therefore go
to hell.
The conclusion is drawn by all: “This is what happens
to those who do evil”.
Act 2
Leporello wants to leave his master, but is persuaded
by him to remain. Giovanni changes clothes with
Leporello in order to seduce Donna Elvira’s maid.
Leporello, dressed as Don Giovanni, is to amuse himself
with Donna Elvira. She is willingly
taken in by the deception.
1