Mozart's Don Giovanni

Two-Act Opera by Wolfgang A. Mozart, a Blend of Buffa and Seria

© Tel Asiado

Apr 13, 2007

Mozart's Don Giovanni, Credit: Music with Ease

Don Giovanni by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: plot summary, character list, and other Mozart opera information.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote some 20 operas. Like Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Così fan tutte, and Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), Don Giovanni remains popular on stage and record.

Although this opera is often classified as comic, in reality it's a blend of comic (buffa) and drama (seria), a kind of in between. Perhaps the success of this opera is the unique blending of both, aside from the fascinating character of Don Juan himself, who despite his scandalous ways still endeared him to women and perhaps became a challenge to the men in those days. Don Giovanni was commissioned for this opera in Prague where Marriage of Figaro was an instant success. In a way, Prague dearly loved him and his music. This version of the Don Juan legend had been so viewed and considered by a number of known writers in the 17th and 18th centuries, and it was one of Mozart's works to enjoy high prestige throughout the 19th century, that it attracted much literary attention. Doubtless this was because it was seen as a romantic work and, among other reasons, with its many fine arias shared by major characters, it has also become a vehicle for the great stars those times, as well, has continued this day.

The Main Characters in Don Giovanni:

Basic plot summary of Mozart's Don Giovanni:

Don Giovanni, a young nobleman, after a life of amorous conquests, meets defeat in his three encounters: with Donna Elvira, whom he has deserted but still follows him; with Donna Anna, whose father, the Commendatore, Giovanni kills in escaping from an unsuccessful attempt at seduction and as a result postpones her marriage to Don Ottavio; and with Zerlina, whom he vainly tries to lure from her fianceé, the peasant Masetto. All vow vengeance on the Don and his harassed servant Leporello. Elvira alone weakens in her resolution and attempts reconciliation and hope that the Don reforms. Don Giovanni's destruction and deliverance to hell are effected by the cemetery statue of the Commendatore, who had accepted the libertine's invitation to supper.

Other operas written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart:


The copyright of the article Mozart's Don Giovanni in Opera is owned by Tel Asiado. Permission to republish Mozart's Don Giovanni must be granted by the author in writing.


Mozart's Don Giovanni, Credit: Music with Ease
        


Post this Article to facebook Add this Article to del.icio.us! Digg this Article furl this Article Add this Article to Reddit Add this Article to Technorati Add this Article to Newsvine Add this Article to Windows Live Add this Article to Yahoo Add this Article to StumbleUpon Add this Article to BlinkLists Add this Article to Spurl Add this Article to Google Add this Article to Ask Add this Article to Squidoo

Print Article Print Article
Email Article Email Article
View All Articles View All Articles
Suite101: Opera articles How to subscribe to feeds