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Don Giovanni

on January 17, 2024
This is the page for the performance on January 17, 2024.
If you would like to attend a performance of this production, you will find further dates below.
Music Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Text Lorenzo Da Ponte
→ Heiteres Drama in zwei Akten

Future dates

14. April 2024
Sunday
18.30 - 21.45
1 intermission
Buy tickets
16. April 2024
Tuesday
18.30 - 21.45
1 intermission
Buy tickets
19. April 2024
Friday
18.30 - 21.45
1 intermission
Buy tickets

Cast 17.01.2024

Conductor Philippe Jordan
Production Barrie Kosky
Stage and Costume Design Katrin Lea Tag
Lighting Design Franck Evin

Details

The simultaneity of elements of farce, comic and tragic opera, low and high style, symphonic and sacred music leads into new territory that crosses borders.

Giovanni travels between all these languages. He himself has no music of his own, as he makes himself the projection screen of the women he desires: Donna Anna, brought up in strict paternal care, who seeks adventure in him; Donna Elvira, escaped from all ties, who hopes for emotional stability; the lower-class girl Zerlina, who dreams of social advancement in his arms. The sequence of scenes in the opera is bracketed by Giovanni's murder of Donna Anna's father and his return as the dead. In the opera, he wants to save Don Giovanni from eternal damnation by making him repent of his deeds - which he refuses to do. So it remains questionable who is the loser in this duel, for Giovanni's intellectual defiance is unbroken.


Program booklet (2,5€0)
 


SYNOPSIS 

Act 1

Don Giovanni’s servant Leporello dreams of one day being a master instead of always being the servant. Donna Anna tries to stop Don Giovanni from fleeing. She calls for help. Don Giovanni declares that she will never find out who he is. Donna Anna’s father, the Commendatore, corners Don Giovanni. In the ensu- ing fight, Don Giovanni fatally injures the Commendatore and makes his escape with Leporello, who reproaches him. Donna Anna urges her fiancé, Don Ottavio, to help her father, but when they arrive the Commendatore is already dead. Donna Anna extracts a promise from her fiancé that he will avenge her father’s death. Don Giovanni is out in search of a new conquest. Instead of a conquest, how ever, he and Leporello encounter Donna Elvira, who accuses Giovanni of having deceived and seduced her with false promises. While Leporello distracts Donna Elvira, Don Giovanni is able to escape. Together with their friends, Masetto and Zerlina are celebrating love, youth and their upcoming marriage. Don Giovanni and Leporello observe the scene with interest. Don Giovanni orders Leporello to take the assembled company, and above all the bridegroom, to his palace and entertain them there; he and Zerlina will follow later. He answers Masetto’s objections with an illconcealed threat. Masetto is forced to relent. Don Giovanni invites Zerlina to his nearby palace, saying he plans to marry her there. Initially Zerlina hesitates, but then agrees. The two of them are interrupted by Donna Elvira, who warns Zerlina about the seducer and leaves with her. Don Ottavio and Donna Anna ask for Don Giovanni’s help looking for the unknown murderer of the Commendatore. Once again, Donna Elvira enters and warns them about Giovanni’s nefarious nature. In response, Giovanni insinuates that Elvira has taken leave of her senses; he follows her when she leaves. Don Giovanni’s demeanour has revealed to Donna Anna that this is the man who murdered her father. She again calls on Don Ottavio to avenge her. Don Giovanni tells Leporello to prepare a celebration at which he plans to make new conquests. Zerlina tries to convince Masetto that nothing happened between her and Don Giovanni. Don Giovanni enters and urges both of them to celebrate with him. Donna Anna, Donna Elvira and Don Ottavio approach, masked. At Don Giovanni’s bidding, Leporello invites them to the party. Don Giovanni disappears with Zerlina. Soon she is heard crying for help. Donna Anna, Donna Elvira, Don Ottavio and Masetto rush to protect her. Don Giovanni points to Leporello as the guilty party. The others don’t believe him, but they are also unable to catch Don Giovanni.

Act 2

Don Giovanni forces Leporello to exchange clothes with him. Disguised as his servant, he wants to seduce Donna Elvira’s maid, while Leporello keeps Donna Elvira occupied. Leporello takes delight in heaping flattery on Donna Elvira. Instead of the new conquest he had hoped for, Don Giovanni runs into Masetto, who is armed and looking for him. However, Masetto does not recognize him in Leporello’s clothes. After Giovanni has relieved him of his weapons, Giovanni gives him a thrashing. Zerlina finds her injured fiancé and tends to his wounds. Leporello tries to escape from Donna Elvira. He runs into Donna Anna and Don Ottavio, Zerlina and Masetto, who mistake him for Don Giovanni. They are determined to kill him. Donna Elvira begs them to have pity. Leporello reveals his identity and asserts his innocence. Making excuses, he manages to escape. Donna Elvira is torn between feeling vengeance and concern for Don Giovanni. Don Giovanni and Leporello meet in the cemetery. Don Giovanni takes great delight in recounting his latest amorous escapades. The voice of the Commendatore warns them not to disturb the rest of the dead. Don Giovanni laughs at the old man and orders Leporello to invite the Commendatore to dinner. Leporello pronounces the invitation. The Commendatore accepts. Don Ottavio offers Donna Anna comfort and his hand. She begs his understanding of her situation and asks him to be patient. Don Giovanni prepares a sumptuous dinner. Donna Elvira appears. She urges Don Giovanni to change his ways. Giovanni mocks her. Elvira leaves, and is then heard to cry out in horror. The Commendatore enters. He offers Don Giovanni a reciprocal invitation. Don Giovanni accepts. He grasps the hand offered him and is alarmed by its ice-cold touch. The Commendatore calls on Don Giovanni to repent and change his lifestyle: this is his last opportunity. Don Giovanni declines. Voices announce his punishment. Don Giovanni collapses.

Donna Anna, Donna Elvira, Don Ottavio, Zerlina and Masetto arrive to punish Don Giovanni in suitable fashion. They find only Leporello, who tells them of the fate that has befallen Don Giovanni. The party disperses, but not before summing up: the death of evildoers always reflects how they have lived their lives.

Sponsor

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