Don Giovanni Synopsis
SEVILLE, SPAIN, 17TH CENTURY
ACT I
Leporello, Don Giovanni’s servant, is outside Donna
Anna’s house. The disguised Don Giovanni runs out,
with Donna Anna, calling for help, in pursuit. The commotion
awakens her father, the Commendatore. In the ensuing duel,
the Commendatore is fatally wounded. Don Giovanni and
Leporello escape, and Donna Anna and her betrothed, Don
Ottavio, return to discover the corpse. They swear vengeance.
Don Giovanni and Leporello encounter Donna Elvira, whom
the Don had seduced and abandoned. He escapes, leaving
Leporello to explain that she is but one in a list of 2,065
conquests. She swears revenge.
Master and servant come upon a peasant wedding party. The
Don, taken with the bride-to-be, Zerlina, invites them to his
villa. Masetto, Zerlina’s intended, is suspicious when he is sent
Don woos Zerlina, promising marriage. As she gives in, Donna
Elvira appears and warns Zerlina of the Don’s intentions,
spiriting her away. Don Ottavio and Donna Anna enlist the
Don’s help in discovering her father’s killer. Donna Elvira returns
and, astonishing the noble couple, accuses Don Giovanni of
betraying her. The Don questions her sanity, but Donna Anna
suddenly recognizes his voice as that of the murderer. She
vows to have vengeance, and Don Ottavio expresses his love
for her.
approach, Masetto hides, alarmed to see the Don try to
seduce Zerlina. He confronts them, and the Don reproaches
him for having left her alone. He escorts them inside. Three
Ottavio. Leporello invites them in.
At the party, Don Giovanni leads Zerlina into an adjoining room.
When she screams, the guests decide to break down the door,
but the Don appears, dragging Leporello and accusing him of
the attack. No one believes the lie, and the guests turn on their
host. The Don, undaunted, forces his way out.
ACT II
Le p o r e l l o
tries to
quit. Instead,
Don Giovanni
persuades him
to exchange
clothes so he
can seduce
Donna Elvira’s
maid. When
Donna Elvira
herself appears
on a balcony,
the Don lures
her down into
the arms of
Leporello, whom she mistakes for him. When they leave,
Don Giovanni serenades the maid. Masetto appears with a
band of men in search of Don Giovanni. As Leporello, the Don
Leporello tries to escape from Donna Elvira, but Don Ottavio,
Donna Anna, Zerlina, and Masetto intercept him. They are
dismayed to discover he is not the Don. He quickly escapes.
After Donna Anna leaves, Don Ottavio asks the others to comfort
her while he avenges her. Donna Elvira laments her betrayal.
Don Giovanni and Leporello hide in a cemetery. They are
interrupted by a voice warning the Don that his end is near. The
voice seems to come from the statue on the Commendatore’s
monument. Don Giovanni forces Leporello to invite the statue
At Don Giovanni’s villa, the Don’s meal is interrupted by the arrival
of Donna Elvira, who urges him to mend his ways. He refuses,
inviting her to join him. She leaves, only to scream and rush
back. Don Giovanni sends Leporello to investigate. He returns
quaking with fright to report that the statue is approaching. Don
Giovanni opens the door. The statue requests that Don Giovanni
dine with him. Don Giovanni agrees and accepts the statue’s
hand. The statue seizes him, demanding that he repent, but
Don Giovanni will not, and is dragged unrepentant into Hell.
When the others learn of the Don’s fate, they conclude it was
well deserved.
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42 | FLORIDA GRAND OPERA
season
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart