
Don Giovanni 1966
The legend of Don Juan lives on…
…as the unrepentant rogue seals his destiny in Mozart’s masterpiece of seduction and revenge.
Synopsis
Act I
In front of the palace of Don Pedro, Commendatore of the Knights of Malta, waits Leporello, complaining of the fate which has made him a servant to the restless and dissolute Don Giovanni. Donna Anna, daughter of the Commendatore, emerges from the palace, calling for help and struggling with the Don to prevent his escape. When her father rushes to her defense, Don Giovanni kills him in a duel and escapes with Leporello. Don Ottavio, Anna’s fiancé, tries to comfort her and swears vengeance.
Prowling about, Don Giovanni and Leporello come upon Donna Elvira, a former sweetheart of the Don who is searching for him. Leporello attempts to discourage her interest by reciting a list of his master’s conquests.
Zerlina and Masetto, two peasants about to be married, attract the attention of the Don. Leaving Leporello to distract Masetto, Giovanni attempts to seduce Zerlina but is interrupted by Elvira, who denounces the Don as a heartless deceiver. Meeting unexpectedly with Donna Anna and Octavio, Giovanni drags Elvira away before she can reveal his true identity as a scoundrel. Anna, however, has recognized his voice and, in answer to Octavio’s questions, describes the scene chat took place before her father’s death. Left alone, Octavio dwells on his love for Anna.
Don Giovanni gives orders to his servants for festivities at his palace in the evening. Masetto reproaches Zerlina for her flirtations with the Don, but she begs forgiveness. Elvira, Anna, and Octavio, robed and masked, arrive at Giovanni’s palace, seeking to punish him.
At the ball, Giovanni again tries to seduce Zerlina. As her cries for help are heard, Giovanni rushes out of the room where he had lured her, dragging behind him Leporello whom he threatens to kill as Zerlina’s attacker.
Artists

Richard Cross
Bass-baritone
Don Giovanni

Donald Gramm
Bass-baritone
Leporello

Beverly Bower
Soprano
Donna Anna

Joan Moynagh
Soprano
Donna Elvira

Charles Bressler
Tenor
Don Ottavio

Catherine Christensen
Soprano
Zerlina

Adib Fazah
Baritone
Masetto

Peter Harrower
bass
Commendatore

Robert Baustian
Conductor

Bliss Hebert
Director

Lawrence Reehling
Scenic Designer

Henry Heymann
Designer
Costume Designer

Joan Larkey
Lighting Designer

R. Whitman Procter
Chorus Master