Mozart’s Don Giovanni Diaries!

One of the monumental works in the operatic repertoire is Don Giovanni arias. I must mention that Mozart has done an exceptional job in selecting Don Giovanni characters. Without further ado let’s look into the Don Giovanni plot summary, main characters and its significance in the world of Opera. It was premiered in Prague in the year 1787. It had a lot of positive and enthusiastic reviews and quickly became a popular and celebrated work of Mozart.

Don Giovanni’ Composer

This remarkable Opera was composed by the Maestro Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Don Giovanni libretto was written by Lorenzo Da Ponte. It was premiered in 1787. Liberestt Lorenzo worked with Mozart and wrote the text incorporating comedy in this tragic story. Don Giovanni’ composer Mozart has used a wide variety of musical forms like lush harmonies, interesting rhythms and different styles of compositions. 

Don Giovanni arias, duets and other ensemble pieces give the listeners an unforgettable experience. These innovative compositions help the Don Giovanni characters convey the right emotions and move the plot in the right direction. I have listened to these enchanting pieces and wondered how the Mozart, was able to depict each character through music! Each character’s been assigned an unique motif that highlights their roles and personalities. 

I read somewhere that this opera was composed during a cultural change in Europe. It would be evident that, Mozart’s character development or even the Don Giovanni plot summary would reflect contemporary thoughts.

Don Giovanni’ Characters

Don Giovanni

He is the titular character of the opera. He’ s a charismatic nobleman and a charming seducer. Lets just say, his character represents an ugly side of human nature.

Donna Anna

She is a strong willed and a determined woman who seeks revenge for her dad’s murder. She is torn between her feelings for Giovanni and her desire to seek revenge to get justice.

Leporello

One of the comic Don Giovanni characters and a servant of Giovanni. He is loyal and often voices out reasoning to his boss’s recklessness.

Don Ottiva

Ottiva is Donna Anna’s a loyal and a romantic nobleman who is betrothed to marry Donna Anna. He is determined to avenge Anna’s father’s death.

Donna Elivera

Elivera is the former love interest of Giovanni. She is betrayed by the hero and has a strong desire for revenge. Her role represents the struggles of women in a patriarchal society.

Masetto

Is Elivera’s fiance and a peasant. He is yet another comedic Don Giovanni character.

The Commendatore

He is Donna Anna’s father. He is one of the interesting characters that Mozart, brought to life. Well, quite literally in his case. The character of commendatore depicts justice and retribution who finally puts down Diovanni.

Don Giovanni Plot Summary

The narrative revolves around attraction, vengeance and, hold on to your hat, supernatural justice.

Act 1

Don Giovanni Plot Summary opens with Giovanni trying to lure Donna Anna. They get stopped by her father whom Giovanni kills in a duel later in the story. At this point Giovanni flees the place leaving Anna and her fiance to plot a revenge. 

Leporello sings one of the beautiful arias, ‘Notte e giorno faticar’, where he expresses his concerns about Giovanni’s atrocities.

Don Giovanni plot summary thickens when our notorious hero seduces Elvira and abandons her too.

She still has feelings for him despite his action but also wants to seek revenge.

Anna and Masetto also attend the wedding and she recognises Giovanni and insists that he killed her father. Giovanni is upset of her accusation and sings “Come mai cedar deggio”

Meanwhile, Giovanni and his servant meet Zerlina and Masetto, a lovely couple at their wedding. “Giovinette che fate” is sung by the choir as the wedding festivities begin.

Now comes an amazing Baritone piece about Giovanni’s amorous pursuits!

Well, big G tries to seduce Zerlina singing ‘La ci Darem la Mano’ but is stopped by Masseto. This is one of the famous duets in Don Giovanni arias.

Yet another one of bass arias is “Madamina, il Catalogo e Questo”. Leprello sings, presenting the world the conquests of his master Don Giovanni to Donna Elvira.

Zerlina tries to calm Masetto who feels jealous and upset over Giovanni’s actions. This is one of the charming soprano Don Giovanni arias.

Act 2

Act of Don Giovanni plot summary opens with “Ah, Fuggi Il Traditor!”. Anna and Ottavio plots to expose the recklessness of Giovanni.

Meanwhile, Don Ottavio expressing his deep and undying love for Anna through one of the beautiful Tenor arias, “Il Mio Tesoro”.

Elvira also pursues to confront Giovanni but he gets help from Loporello and escapes from all his pursuers. They both change their clothes creating dubiety. At this point, the softy, Elvira, among the characters sings her lingering feelings for Giovanni. She sings “Mi Tradi Quell’alma”.

Commendatore and Giovanni sing “ O statua gentilissima” encapsulating the entire theme of the opera, retribution and supernatural justice.

Zerlina tries to pick herself up from the emotional turmoil i.e., her feelings for Giovanni in spite of his betrayals.

Finale

In a graveyard, Giovanni spots Commendatore’s statue, one of the powerful Don Giovanni characters. either boldly or foolishly invites him to dinner. “Don Giovanni, a Cenar Teco”, the commendatore gives out a warning to Giovanni. This is one of the beautiful baritone Don Giovanni arias.

Giovanni refuses to repent and the statue serves a supernatural justice by taking him to hell with him. Don Giovanni composer, Mozart composed “Questo e il Fin”, lamenting the tragic end of the notorious Giovanni.

Watch the entire Don Giovanni Opera here!

What is Don Giovanni’ Significance in Opera History?

This opera is still regarded as one of the genre’s masterpieces. It is celebrated for the innovative thinking of blending tragedy and comedy. It seems only fitting to say that the Titular character is complex. A villain for a hero! Every other traditional opera would have a nobleman, sweet and caring for a titular character. But Don Giovanni is a notorious seducer and worst of all doesn’t care about his recklessness.  Can’t deny, this sounds  like a hoot!

 The Don Giovanni composer, Mozart has outdone himself with wishful thinking. Blending different music styles to blending different moods, Don Giovanni arias stands out for their ability to convey different emotions. They are accompanied by a lush orchestration. The orchestration also keeps the narrative up and running, differentiating the light and dark elements of Don Giovanni characters.  The Italian Don Giovanni libretto was written by Lorenza Da Ponte.  

It is said that Don Giovanni plot summary has inspired many other composers like Wagner, Verdi who’s later experimented with similar themes and characters.

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