Don Giovanni 1972

Synopsis
Artists

The legend of Don Juan lives on…

…as the unrepentant rogue seals his destiny in Mozart’s masterpiece of seduction and revenge.

Music By

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Libretto By

Lorenzo da Ponte

Edited By

Wolfgang Plath and Wolfgang Rehm for Barenreiter-Verlag

Act I

Scene I: Leporello waits outside the house of the Commendatore, complaining about his life as the servant of the restless, dissolute Don Giovanni. His complaints are cut short as Donna Anna, the Commendatore’s daughter, and the Don rush struggling from the house – Anna calling out and trying to see the face of her attacker. As she runs for help, her father confronts the Don, and is killed. Too late, Anna returns with her fiancé, Don Ottavio, and both swear to avenge the murder.

Scene II: Prowling the streets, the Don and his lackey meet a woman, whom they recognize too late as Donna Elvira, an abandoned sweetheart in search of the Don. As she demands an explanation of his infidelity, the Don leaves Leporello to comfort her-by reading the entire catalogue of his master’s many conquests.

Scene III: The street near the Don’s house is filled with peasants celebrating the wedding of their friends Zerlina and Masetto. In order to be alone with the bride, the Don invites the entire group into his house, asking Leporello to distract the attention of Masetto. Just as Zerlina is weakening to his advances, Elvira appears. takes the girl away, and returns to continue her denunciation as Anna and Ottavio arrive to ask the Don’s help in finding the murderer. The Don claims Elvira to be insane, and drags her away, but Anna has recognized his voice, and tells Ottavio she is certain that the Don is the guilty man.

Meanwhile, the Don plans the festivities of the evening to cover his seduction of Zerlina.

Scene IV: Inside the house the dancing has begun, and the Don has taken Zerlina aside. When her cries for help are heard, he blames Leporello as her attacker. Anna, Elvira, and Ottavio, who have come in disguise, reveal themselves and denounce the Don, who barely manages to escape.

Act II

Scene I: Outside Elvira’s lodging, Leporello and the Don have changed cloaks – with Leporello leading Elvira away to allow Giovanni to serenade her maid. Masetto and a band of peasants interrupt and ask the whereabouts of the Don. He sends them all away in search, except Masetto who he beats severely as he escapes.

Scene II: Elvira, still thinking Leporello to be the Don, has led him to a secluded spot near the Commendatore’s house, where they are set upon by Anna, Ottavio, Zerlina, and Masetto. The frightened Leporello reveals his identity, and escapes.

Scene Ill: Leporello meets the Don in a graveyard where each has gone to escape the searchers. Finding the tomb of the Commendatore, the Don impudently invites his statue to supper.

Scene IV: In the garden of her house, Anna urges Ottavio to delay their marriage until her father’s murder has been avenged.

Scene V: The Don has set an elaborate table for the stone guest. Elvira arrives to plead once again for his love, but he ignores her. She flees in terror as the statue of the Commendatore arrives, takes the Don’s hand in an icy grip, and drags him into hell.

Synopsis

Act I

Act II

Artists

Michael Devlin

Michael Devlin

Donald Gramm

Donald Gramm

Milla Andrew

Milla Andrew

Teresa Cahill

Teresa Cahill

George Shirley

George Shirley

Frederica von Stade

Frederica von Stade

Brent Ellis

Brent Ellis

Don Garrard

Don Garrard

Edo de Waart

Edo de Waart

Bodo Igesz

Bodo Igesz

Neil Peter Jampolis

Neil Peter Jampolis

Suzanne Mess

Suzanne Mess

Robert Jones

Robert Jones

Don Giovanni 1972