There is no doubt that Mozart’s Don Giovanni is one of
the most popular and most-produced pieces of the
classical opera canon. Don Giovanni, as the legend goes, is
the quintessential reprobate – a womanizing scoundrel whose
list runs so long that his sidekick, Leporello, needs the entire
‘catalogue aria’ to get through the names of his “trophies”.
So, why has the story of Don Giovanni managed to hold such
appeal to this day?
fantasies. Imagine, a libertine aristocrat seducing women
condemned to hell. In a way, Don
Giovanni mirrors how much we
want to challenge the conventional
morality and break the rules. He
indulges in his every desire without
concern for the impact of his
actions. Many of us have wishfully
hoped for that same power to get
away with everything.
As a director, I always like to
ask myself one question before
approaching the piece: “Why
now?” Why are we taking the
opera at this very moment?
It is hard not to face Don Giovanni without thinking about what
similar questions when I am reading ghastly stories about the
fallouts of predators from all walks of life. How did they get away
with so many victims for so long? Why didn’t they speak up?
Once you have those questions bustling in mind, you can
never open the score and see this opera the same as before. It
occurred to me that the story is no longer about Don Giovanni’s
who through sheer determination, collectively expose and
topple someone who thinks he could escape without any
consequences for his actions.
According to Leporello’s catalogue, a vast number of women
are ‘conquered’ by Don Giovanni. However, we only get to see
three of them in this opera: Donna Anna, Donna Elvira and
Zerlina. I believe that all three women display unusual strength
and tenacity in their own way.
44 | FLORIDA GRAND OPERA
The opera begins with Donna Anna chasing Don Giovanni
out after narrowly escaping his attempted rape. The very
lasci fuggir mai’ (Do not hope that I will allow you to escape,
unless you kill me). Later, we discover Donna Elvira has in fact,
left the convent and traveled a long distance to Seville in an
attempt to, ‘gli vo’ cavare il cor’ (rip out his heart). For these
two characters, we only see the aftermath of Don Giovanni’s
actions. However, with the character of Zerlina, we see Don
Giovanni’s grooming and schemes in full blossom. Though she
succumbs in the beginning, I believe it is Zerlina who initiates
the downfall of Don Giovanni. It is in that moment when she
rushes out calling: ‘Soccorretemi
o son morta!’ (Help me, or I am
dead) that the public is exposed
Don Giovanni’s misconduct.
The male characters in this piece
also serve as a strong ally to the
three women mentioned above.
Don Ottavio, a nobleman, drops
everything and joins her crusade
of justice. Masetto, a peasant, is
also not shy of confronting Don
Giovanni, when he realizes what
Although it is easy to forget that
Leporello is also a victim of his master’s reckless mistreatment,
he, too, will grow.
The story weaves together a journey of these six people who
seek justice, challenge the acquiescence of a status quo and
grow both individually and collectively. More importantly, they
cannot succeed without the contribution of each individual,
What could it be more relevant in our current world?
I hope you will get to enjoy following these characters’
journey and see through the prismatic lens of this fascinating
masterpiece. Don Giovanni, a womanizing brute who seems
to be above the law, might have been a product of his social
class at the time. However, regardless of the time period,
characters like Don Giovanni are not immune to the individual
and collective power of grit and courage.
–MO ZHOU
Don Giovanni Program Notes
season
Why are we taking the effort
to present this particular opera
at this very moment?
It is hard not to face Don
Giovanni without thinking
about what has happened in
the #MeToo movement.
From the Director
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