Don Giovanni

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Synopsis

Program Notes People unfamiliar with opera sometimes accuse the stories of being too old-fashioned and stuffy for modern audiences. Opera lovers know better - opera is filled with more drama, intrigue and scandal than your average Hollywood blockbuster. A perfect example is Mozart's Don Giovanni. The title character (an Italianized Don Juan) is a murderer and serial womanizer (and probably rapist as well) who has the audacity to seduce a bride on her wedding day. If the juicy plot isn't enough, the music certainly is Mozart's genius is in full force in Don Giovanni, which gave the world such enduring melodies as "ci darem la mano." This production is beautifully sung by an all-star cast at the Salzburg Festival. Act I During an attempt to seduce Donna Anna, Don Giovanni kills her father (the Commendatore) who had rushed to her aid. Donna Anna did not recognize the intruder, but appeals to her fiance Don Ottavio to avenge the murder. At dawn, Don Giovanni accidentally runs into a lover he had abandoned, Donna Elvira. Don Giovanni scampers away, while his sidekick Leporello presents Donna Elvira with the long list of Giovanni's romantic conquests. The young peasant girl Zerlina, who is celebrating her marriage to Masetto, arouses Giovanni's interest. He joins the celebrating peasants and forces Masetto to leave him alone with Zerlina. His first attempt at seduction fails due to Elvira's protective intervention. Her vehement warnings not to trust Don Giovanni unsettle even Anna and Ottavio who arrive to that very spot in time to witness the scene. When Anna hears Don Giovanni's voice, she is identifies him as her father's murderer, and again demands vengeance and action from Ottavio. Zerlina, in the mean time, tries to comfort Masetto, who is upset that Don Giovanni wants to spend so much time alone with his bride. That night, Giovanni throws a party for the bride and groom, under the pretext of his noble generosity. Leporello tries to distract Masetto while Don Giovanni forces Zerlina out of the room, determined to seduce her. Elvira, Anna and Ottavio attend the party wearing masks to avoid being recognized. When Zerlina's cries for help suddenly interrupt the dancing, Don Giovanni tries to put the blame on Leporello. No one is convinced; the three masked guests reveal their identity and everyone accuses Giovanni, who barely escapes. ACT II Don Giovanni trades clothes with Leporello. Leporello then meets with Elvira, feigning love and repentence, while Giovanni himself, as Leporello, will seduce her maid. In their quest to hunt down Don Giovanni, Masetto and other peasants seize who they believe to be Leporello (but is actually Giovanni himself), and pester him with questions on his master's whereabouts. Without being recognized, Giovanni gives them false directions, and then beats up Masetto. Zerlina arrives and tenderly consoles her husband. Together with Elvira, Leporello (disguised as Don Giovanni) is confronted by Anna, Ottavio, Zerlina and Masetto. They demand his death; only Elvira pleads for mercy for her supposed "husband." Leporello unmasks himself, begs for mercy and escapes. Elvira is furious that she has been fooled once again. Giovanni and Leporello rendezvous in a cemetery. Suddenly a statue begins to speak the statue of the Commendatore which marks his grave. Giovanni forces his terrified servant to invite the Commendatore's statue to dinner. While Giovanni sits down to his meal, Elvira rushes in and tries one last time to make him repent and change his ways. He rebuffs her, and she leaves. The statue of the Commendatore appears and in turn invites Giovanni to a meal. As soon as Giovanni accepts, Death grips him. He refuses to repent and is devoured by the flames of Hell.