Don Giovanni (1983)

The opera, set in Seville, recounts the events of the last day in Don Giovanni’s life.

After attempting to seduce Donna Anna, he is challenged to a duel by her father, the Commendatore, whom he murders. Escaping without being seen, he and his manservant, Leporello, meet Donna Elvira, a former conquest of Giovanni’s, who seeks revenge on him for abandoning her after promising marriage. During the festivities for a peasant wedding, Don Giovanni attempts to seduce the wife-to-be, Zerlina, by exercising the seventeenth-century right of “droit du seigneur” which permits a lord to bed a woman of lower rank before her marriage. Masetto, the husband-to-be, is understandably upset, but he is powerless. Elvira interrupts these proceedings with further accusations, and drags Zerlina away.

Donna Anna and her suitor, Don Ottavio, meet Don Giovanni. Elvira arrives on the scene again, and when Giovanni beats a hasty retreat, Donna Anna realizes that he is her seducer and the murderer of her father. She ambiguously describes what went on between Don Giovanni and herself in her room a few hours earlier, and then makes Ottavio swear to avenge her father’s death.

Don Giovanni gives a party for the peasants, at which Elvira, Anna, and Ottavio arrive masked. He attempts to seduce Zerlina, but her screams and the indignation of the guests put an end ot that. Zerlina, Masetto, Anna, Ottavio, and Elvira furiously accuse Giovanni of misdeeds, and advise him to “tremble” before the wrath of heaven. Giovanni, hoping to seduce Elvira’s maid, switches roles with his servant. Elvira falls for the ruse and, thinking Giovanni loves her again, goes of with the disguised as Leporello. Alone, Giovanni sings a serenade to the maid, who never appears. Masetto and armed peasants arrive in search of Giovanni, who pretends to be Leporello and sends them of in different directions. Then he beats Masetto and runs away. Zerlina finds Masetto and comforts him. Leporello’s disguise is uncovered by Anna, Ottavio, Elvira, and Zerlina, and they berate the servant. In a churchyard in which Giovanni and Leporello have taken refuge, the statue of the Commendatore speaks. Giovanni orders Leporello to invite the statue to supper at his house.

Meanwhile, Donna Anna tells Otavio that she loves him but is not yet ready to marry him. As Giovanni enjoys dinner and musical entertainment, Elvira rushes in and begs him to repent. On her way out she meets the statue, which has accepted Giovanni’s invitation and duly arrived. It orders Giovanni to repent. When Giovanni refuses, the statue leaves, a chorus of devils is heard, and the Don is engulfed in the flames of damnation. The others enter angrily with ministers of justice, but Leporello tells them what has occurred. Released from the necessity of dealing with their common enemy, they turn to the audience and moralize happily.

The legend of Don Juan was first set down by Tirso di Molina, a Seville monk, ni a drama called El Burlador de Sevilla.

The opera is in nine scenes, two acts.

Mark Lamos