• Michigan Opera Theatre- April 17-24, 2010
• Virginia Opera   (Study Guide) - Fairfax
  February 26, 2010, 8:00 pm
  February 28, 2010, 2:00 pm
• Lyric Opera of Kansas  City  - April 24, 28, 30 and May 2, 2010
  
  

ACT I

One night in Seville, the valet Leporello is complaining of his master's ingratitude to him. The
nobleman in question, Oon Giovanni, has broken into the Commendatore's house in order to ravish his
daughter, Donna Anna. She tries to prevent his escape by crying for help. The Commendatore intervenes,
but after a brief duel Don Giovanni kills him and disappears with Leporello. Donna Anna returns with her
fiance Don Ottavio and servants, but arrives too late: she can only lament the death of her father. She
makes Don Ottavio swear to avenge him.

A short distance away, Leporello is reproaching his master for his behaviour when he is interrupted by
the arrival of a woman, whom Don Giovanni immediately attempts to seduce. To his great surprise, it
turns out to be Donna Elvira, a lady whom he had deceived and who has followed Giovanni to Seville for
love of him. He leaves Leporello to give her an explanation of his conduct while he slips away. The servant
takes the opportunity to reveal Don Giovanni's true nature to Donna Elvira by listing his conquests.
Elvira, disgusted, calls out for vengeance.

Meanwhile, Don Giovanni has come upon a peasant wedding, and decides to seduce the young bride,
Zerlina. Leporello, who has rejoined him in the meantime, gets the bridegroom Masetto and the guests
out of the way by taking them off to a banquet, while his master invites Zerlina to his mansion, promising
to marry her. But just when she is on the point of yielding, Elvira appears: she exposes Don Giovanni's
lies and goes off with the girl.

Now alone, Don Giovanni meets Donna Anna and Don Ottavio. The Commendatore's daughter does not
recognise him, and is requesting his help in finding her father's murderer when Elvira comes back and
starts her accusations again. In order to preserve his gentlemanly image, Don Giovanni tries to pass her
off as mad, and hastily bustles her away. Only now does Donna Anna recognise him as the man who
killed her father. She relates the full story of his assault on her to Don Ottavio.

Don Giovanni meets up with Leporello, who tells him how Elvira and Zerlina interrupted the party. Don
Giovanni orders him to carryon with the festivities so that he can make fresh conquests. During this
time, in the garden of Don Giovanni's mansion, Zerlina is trying to appease Masetto's jealousy. When
Don Giovanni appears, the young peasant hides in order to observe him. He is eventually discovered,
and Don Giovanni invites the couple to return to the party.

Donna Anna, Donna Elvira and Don Ottavio now enter wearing masks, determined to challenge Don
Giovanni. They are not recognised by Leporello, who invites them too to the ball. During the dancing,
Leporello distracts Masetto's attention while Don Giovanni abducts Zerlina. Hearing her screams, the
three masked guests rush to her aid and reveal their identity. Caught red-handed, Don Giovanni tries to
lay the blame on Leporello, but he fails to convince and runs off.

ACT II

After all these events, Leporello announces to his master that he wants to leave his service, but
his mind is finally changed by the offer of a fat purse. Don Giovanni now outlines his plan to seduce Elvira's
maid: the two men will exchange clothes, and Don Giovanni will entice his former mistress out of her
house by declaring his repentance. Elvira, believing she is back in favour with her lover, goes off with the
disguised Leporello, thus leaving the way open for Don Giovanni. But hardly has he begun his serenade
than it is interrupted by Masetto, followed by a group of armed peasants. Pretending to be Leporello,
Don Giovanni sends the peasants off in the wrong direction, and once he is alone with Masetto takes
advantage of his situation to give him a beating. After this, Zerlina appears and comforts her fiance.
Meanwhile, Donna Elvira and Leporello (still in the guise of Don Giovanni) encounter Donna Anna and Don
Ottavio. Leporello tries to escape, but is prevented from doing so by the arrival of Zerlina and Masetto.
They all believe they have finally captured Don Giovanni, and in her generosity of spirit, Elvira again tries
to save him. Only now is the prisoner revealed to be Leporello, who just manages to make good his escape
after providing a confused explanation. Now convinced of Don Giovanni's guilt, Don Ottavio resolves to
go to the city authorities. Zerlina has succeeded in recapturing Leporello, whom she tis!s to a chair and
threatens with dreadful tortures; but he gets away once more when she leaves to look for Masetto. The
latter gives an account of further depraved conduct on Don Giovanni's part, then goes off with Zerlina to
inform Don Ottavio. But Elvira, for her part, still cannot banish a semblance of pity for the ingrate.
Leporello and Don Giovanni meet up in a graveyard to put on their own clothes again. They are telling
each other of their latest adventures when a voice from beyond the grave commands them to leave the
dead in peace. Seeking to find where the voice comes from, Don Giovanni discovers the Commendatore's
tomb, decorated with his statue and an inscription declaring that the dead man awaits vengeance. He
mockingly orders the terrified Leporello to invite the statue to supper; his offer is accepted with a nod
of the stone figure's head.

We are now back with Donna Anna and Don Ottavio: while the latter promises her prompt revenge for her
sufferings, Anna asks him to postpone their marriage. Meanwhile Don Giovanni is preparing to sup in his
mansion, served by Leporello. Donna Elvira enters, begging him one last time to mend his ways. When
he refuses, she makes to leave, then suddenly utters a terrified scream and flees. Leporello runs over
to find out what has frightened her: he too cries out before diving under the table, from where, shaking
from head to foot, he informs his master that the statue of the Commendatore has arrived for supper.
Don Giovanni himself opens the door to the stone guest, who enters and in his turn invites the young
man to come to dinner with him. Don Giovanni accepts; the statue asks for his hand as a pledge, then
grips it and urges the rake to repent. But Don Giovanni vehemently refuses, and is dragged down into
the pit of hell which opens at his feet.

Enter Donna Anna, Donna Elvira, Don Ottavio, Zerlina and Masetto, still in search of Don Giovanni. When
they have listened to Leporello's account, Donna Anna asks Don Ottavio to respect a year of mourning
before their wedding is celebrated. Elvira decides to end her life in a convent, and Leporello sets off for
the inn to seek a new master. Together they point the moral of their adventures: death is the punishment
for all wrongdoers!

ACT ONE
At night, outside the Commendatore's palace, Leporello grumbles about his duties as servant to Don Giovanni, a dissolute nobleman. Soon the masked Don appears, pursued by Donna Anna, the Commendatore's daughter, whom he has tried to seduce. When the Commendatore himself answers Anna's cries, he is killed in a duel by Giovanni, who escapes. Anna now returns with her fiancé, Don Ottavio. Finding her father dead, she makes Ottavio swear vengeance on the assassin.

At dawn, Giovanni flirts with a high-strung traveler outside a tavern. She turns out to be Donna Elvira, a woman he once seduced in Burgos, who is on his trail. Giovanni escapes while Leporello distracts Elvira by reciting his master's long catalog of conquests. Peasants arrive, celebrating the nuptials of their friends Zerlina and Masetto; when Giovanni joins in, he pursues the bride, angering the groom, who is removed by Leporello. Alone with Zerlina, the Don applies his charm, but Elvira interrupts and protectively whisks the girl away. When Elvira returns to denounce him as a seducer, Giovanni is stymied further while greeting Anna, now in mourning, and Ottavio. Declaring Elvira mad, he leads her off. Anna, having recognized his voice, realizes Giovanni was her attacker.

Dressing for the wedding feast he has planned for the peasants, Giovanni exuberantly downs champagne.

Outside the palace, Zerlina begs Masetto to forgive her apparent infidelity. Masetto hides when the Don appears, emerging from the shadows as Giovanni corners Zerlina. The three enter the palace together. Elvira, Anna and Ottavio arrive in dominoes and masks and are invited to the feast by Leporello.

During the festivities, Leporello entices Masetto into the dance as Giovanni draws Zerlina out of the room. When the girl's cries for help put him on the spot, Giovanni tries to blame Leporello. But no one is convinced; Elvira, Anna and Ottavio unmask and confront Giovanni, who barely escapes Ottavio's drawn sword.

ACT TWO
Under Elvira's balcony, Leporello exchanges cloaks with Giovanni to woo the lady in his master's stead. Leporello leads Elvira off, leaving the Don free to serenade Elvira's maid. When Masetto passes with a band of armed peasants bent on punishing Giovanni, the disguised rake gives them false directions, then beats up Masetto. Zerlina arrives and tenderly consoles her betrothed.

In a passageway, Elvira and Leporello are surprised by Anna, Ottavio, Zerlina and Masetto, who, mistaking servant for master, threaten Leporello. Frightened, he unmasks and escapes. When Anna departs, Ottavio affirms his confidence in their love. Elvira, frustrated at her second betrayal by the Don, voices her rage.

Leporello catches up with his master in a cemetery, where a voice warns Giovanni of his doom. This is the statue of the Commendatore, which the Don proposes Leporello invite to dinner. When the servant reluctantly stammers an invitation, the statue accepts.

In her home, Anna, still in mourning, puts off Ottavio's offer of marriage until her father is avenged.

Leporello is serving Giovanni's dinner when Elvira rushes in, begging the Don, whom she still loves, to reform. But he waves her out contemptuously. At the door, her screams announce the Commendatore's statue. Giovanni boldly refuses warnings to repent, even in the face of death. Flames engulf his house, and the sinner is dragged to hell.

Among the castle ruins, the others plan their future and recite the moral: such is the fate of a wrongdoer.

by John W. Freeman
courtesy of Opera New

----------------------------------------

Act I: Scene 1 Outside Donna Anna's house at night
Don Giovanni, a noble of Spain, has set forth on a daring adventure and has broken into the house of Don Pedro, the Commandant of Seville, (the Commendatore), intending to seduce his daughter, Donna Anna.

Leporello, Don Giovanni's trusted servant, waits outside, doing sentry duty for his master. Don Giovanni is seen fleeing the palace, pursued by Donna Anna who is desperately trying to unmask the seducer, swearing he will pay dearly for his transgression. After hearing Donna Anna's screams, the Commendatore appears sword in hand to defend his daughter. The Commendatore challenges the stranger, and in reluctant self defense, Giovanni mortally wounds the Commendatore and then flees the scene. Donna Anna, horrified by her father's death, joins with her fiance, Don Ottavio, to swear revenge against the murderer.

Act I: Scene 2 A street at dawn
Don Giovanni and Leporello roam the city in search of new conquests. Donna Elvira is seen alighting from a coach and is heard expressing sadness, hope, and eventually outrage as she laments the treachery of her faithless lover, Don Giovanni. She is determined to find him, force him to return to her, and if she fails, she threatens to inflict terrible torture on him. Don Giovanni, unaware of the woman's identity, approaches the lady in distress, and before he can offer her consolation, finds to his consternation that she is none other than Donna Elvira of Burgos, the woman he had spurned some time ago. Giovanni tries to persuade her that he had justifiable reasons for abandoning her, but Elvira refuses to believe her betrayer nor accept his explanations. Giovanni manages to escape the scene, leaving Leporello to provide Elvira with an explanation.

Act I: Scene 3 In the countryside near Don Giovanni's palace
Country folk sing, dance, and praise the joys of life and love. Don Giovanni learns of the approaching marriage between Zerlina and Masetto, and generously decides to place the marriage under his "protection." Giovanni has become enamored with Zerlina, envisions her as his next conquest, and invites all the peasants to his castle, including the bridegroom, Masetto. Discretion becomes the better part of valor for the protesting Masetto as Leporello escorts him away.

Alone with Zerlina, Giovanni tries to seduce her with a serenade, surprising her with his suggestion that he would marry her, and then suggests that they go to a little house on the estate where they can be alone. Just as Zerlina is about to surrender to the seductive charms of Don Giovanni, Donna Elvira suddenly appears. With indignation, Elvira seizes Zerlina and leads her away under her protection, warning her that she must defend her honor against the lecherous nobleman.

Don Ottavio and Donna Anna arrive, but Anna does not recognize her assailant from me night before and unwittingly solicits Giovanni's help and friendship. Before Giovanni can ask the reason for her request, Donna Elvira suddenly reappears and proceeds to warn Anna not to have faith in this man who would betray her. Donna Anna and Don Ottavio become moved by Donna Elvira's tears as Giovanni tells them in an aside that the poor woman is mad, and perhaps he can calm her. But Donna Anna and Don Ottavio become confused and do not know whom to believe. Elvira storms away, and Giovanni quickly announces that he must follow the poor unfortunate woman. Donna Anna has a revelation and is now convinced, through Giovanni's voice and manner that she recognizes her assailant and her father's murderer from me night before, and beseeches Ottavio to join her in revenge. Ottavio swears by his duty as lover and friend to vindicate Donna Anna's honor.

Act I: Scene 4 A terrace before Don Giovanni's castle
Don Giovanni, obsessed in his pursuit of Zerlina, has invited all the peasants to his castle for a night of merriment. Giovanni commands Leporello to round up the guests for the party. Meanwhile, Zerlina and Masetto argue, her fiance accusing her of being unfaithful and abandoning him on their wedding day. Zerlina claims innocence, and tries to pacify her outraged and jealous fiance.

Don Giovanni finds Zerlina, and persuades her to disappear with him into the arbor, but his intrigue is thwarted when he finds the implacable Masetto hiding there. In frustration, Giovanni escorts them both to his ball in the castle. Suddenly, a trio of masked avengers arrives: Donna Anna, Don Ottavio, and Donna Elvira, all determined to invade the ball, capture Don Giovanni, expose his wickedness, and punish him. Leporello, believing that the three figures are guests in masquerade, on Giovanni's instructions, welcomes them into me ball.

Don Giovanni becomes preoccupied with his attempt to seduce the apprehensive Zerlina, coerces her, and both disappear through one of the doors of the ballroom. When Zerlina screams, the dancing stops, the peasants hurriedly leave the scene, and the three masked avengers break down the door to rescue Zerlina. Zerlina is returned to safety and the avengers advance upon Don Giovanni. Giovanni firmly announces that he fears nothing and nobody, forces his way past the avengers, and escapes with his faithful servant Leporello.

 
Act II: Scene 1 In front of Donna Elvira's house
In a moment of pleading righteousness, Leporello threatens to leave Giovanni 's service, urging his master to give up his wasteful existence, but Giovanni 's philosophical explanation that seduction is the bread of his life, together with money, assuage the rebellious servant.

Don Giovanni has now become fascinated with Donna Elvira's maid. To clear the way for this new adventure, he must draw Elvira away: Giovanni and Leporello exchange cloaks and hats; in the disguise of his master, Leporello will court Elvira. Elvira appears at her window, and reflects on her bewildered feelings, praying that her heart stops yearning for the man she knows is a liar and deceiver. Giovanni takes a position behind Leporello, now dressed in his master's cloak and hat, and Giovanni, the voice behind Leporello, answers the vulnerable Elvira with seductive flat- tery and endearments and promises of true love. Elvira falls into Giovanni 's trap, and imagines the voice she hears belongs to the figure she mistakes for Giovanni, and she descends from her balcony to join the man she thinks is her lover. Elvira passionately embraces her lover (Leporello) the servant thoroughly enjoying the charade and the impersonation of his master. Giovanni creates a disturbance, Leporello's cue to flee with the frightened Elvira. With Elvira gone, Giovanni is left alone to serenade Elvira's maid in peace.

Don Giovanni 's attempted romantic escapade with Elvira's maid is interrupted by a band of armed peasants in search of him, led by the pistol-waving Masetto. But Giovanni, still in the disguise of his servant, Leporello, is taken into their confidence and proceeds to give them false directions to find the rascal: the peasants proceed to scatter throughout the city in search of Giovanni. Giovanni remains behind with Masetto and invites him to show him his weapons. When the naive Masetto hands over his musket and pistol, Giovanni thrashes him before disappearing into the night. Zerlina arrives and discovers an unhappy Masetto groaning in pain. She gives him solace, and promises him a cure that will restore him to health: the cure is her love.

Act II: Scene 2 A courtyard outside Donna Anna's house
Leporello leads the apprehensive Elvira into a darkened courtyard to seek refuge from their pursuers. Donna Anna, Don Ottavio, and then Zerlina and Masetto appear, all of them still in search of Don Giovanni. They believe they have discovered him (Leporello in disguise) and demand death to the perfidious villain. They are about to kill the unfortunate servant, but with terrified pleas and supplications, Leporello dissuades them, and then miraculously escapes. Alone, Don Ottavio vows to comfort his beloved by bringing Don Giovanni to justice.

Act II: Scene 3 A cemetery with the marble statue of the Commendatore
Don Giovanni and Leporello, fugitives from all the avengers, meet in the safety of a cemetery. Suddenly, they are interrupted by a sinister voice coming from a Stone Statue. Looking around, Giovanni notices the Commendatore's equestrian statue and commands Leporello to read its inscription: "Vengeance here awaits the villain who took my life." Giovanni instructs Leporello to invite the Stone Statue to supper. The Statue nods its head in acceptance, and then Giovanni personally extends the invitation: the Statue accepts with a solemn "yes." Don Giovanni, burning with defiance, goes home to prepare for the arrival of his strange guest.

Act II: Scene 4 A room in Donna Anna's house
Donna Anna continues to mourn for her father, advising the consoling Don Ottavio that they can- not wed until her father's murder has been avenged.

Act II: Scene 5 The dining hall in Don Giovanni's palace
In an expansive and hospitable mood, Don Giovanni prepares for a tense and terrifying confrontation with his guest. Donna Elvira, agitated and desperate, appears to warn her beloved that he is in danger and begging him to change his life. Elvira falls on her knees, and pleads with him to repent, but Giovanni loses patience with her, and excuses her.

A knocking is heard at the door and a fearful Leporello hides under a table. Giovanni opens the door, and returns followed by the Stone Statue of the Commendatore. The Stone Statue refuses Giovanni's offer to dine with him, but grasps Giovanni's hand and urges him to mend his ways and repent. Giovanni struggles frantically and in vain to free himself from the Statue's grip, defiantly refusing to repent. Flames envelop the hall and voices of demons are heard: the forces of damnation denounce Don Giovanni, and with a final cry of despair, Don Giovanni is swallowed up by the fires of Hell.

Epilogue:
The entire group of avengers arrive: Masetto and Zerlina, Don Ottavio and Donna Anna, and the lonely Donna Elvira, all unanimous in their lustful eagerness to show their contempt and hatred for the perfidious Don Giovanni. Leporello proceeds to provide the bloodthirsty avengers with a detailed account of the demise of his master. Donna Anna and Don Ottavio suggest that all their troubles have been resolved by divine intervention, and she advises Ottavio that she will remain in mourning for an entire year: her marriage to Ottavio will therefore be postponed and be reconsidered afterwards. Donna Elvira announces that she will retire to a convent. Zerlina and Masetto decide to return home: to dine. Leporello declares that he has but one practical alternative: he will go to the tavern and seek a new master. All join and celebrate the demise of the wrongdoer: divine justice has been victorious!

• Notes
• Libretto
• Info
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/F52526?thread=77775&latest=1
• CD Number: Virgin Veritas 7243 5 45605 2 1
  European Voices, Simon Halsey director
  Le Concert d'Astrée
  Emmanuelle Haïm, harpsichord and director
  Susan Graham, mezzo-soprano (Dido)
• When love and power collide, the result is rarely happy. Aeneas, the sole surviving Trojan prince, has fled the ruins of his native city in search of a new land for his people. After years of fruitless wandering at sea, he is ship-wrecked on the coast of Africa. He is given shelter in Carthage, the city founded and ruled by Queen Dido. The two monarchs fall in love, but destiny and jealousy conspire to tear them apart. One is heart-broken, the other destroyed.
• http://www.treblechorus.com/content/main/chorusOpera2001.htm
• http://www.operajaponica.org/contents.htm

• http://www.indyopera.org/    Friday, May 5, 2006 at 8pm & Sunday, May 7, 2006 at 2pm.
• http://www.sacopera.org/currentseason.html    Feb. 24, 26, & 28, 2006  Sacramento Opera

Roles
Zurga, head fisherman baritone
Nadir, a fisherman tenor
Leïla, a priestess of Brahma soprano
Nourabad, high priest of Brahma bass

The action takes place in Ceylon.

The local fishermen elect Zurga as their leader. Nadir returns to the village, and he and Zurga recall at how their friendship was once threatened when they both fell in love with an unknown priestess. They swear eternal friendship. The priestess Leila arrives for a vigil of prayer for the safety of the fishermen, and Nadir recognizes her as the woman he and Zurga had loved. In the night, he goes to her and they acknowledge their love, but they are caught by the high priest Nourabad. For breaking her vow of chastity, she and Nadir are condemned to death. Zurga, feeling jealous and betrayed, discovered that in the past Leila had saved his life, and sets fire to the village to allow the two lovers to escape.

The first act shows a company of pearl fishers on the coast. They choose Zurga as chief. He and his friend Nadir, in the duet, "Au fond du temple saint" (In the depths of the temple), recall their former rivalry for the hand of the beautiful priestess, Leila, and how they swore never to see her again.

Now approaches a veiled priestess who comes annually to pray for the success of the pearl fishers. She prays to Brahma. Nadir recognizes Leila. His love for her at once revives. She goes into the temple. He sings "Je crois encore entendre" (I hear as in a dream). When she returns and again invokes the aid of Brahma, she manages to convey to Nadir the knowledge that she has recognized and still loves him.

In the second act, in a ruined temple, the high priest, Nourabad, warns her, on pain of death, to be faithful to her religious vows. Leila tells him he need have no fear. She never breaks a promise. The necklace she wears was given her by a fugitive, whose hiding place she refused to reveal, although the daggers of his pursuers were pointed at her heart. She had promised not to betray him. Her solo, "Comme autrefois," etc. (A fugitive one day), is followed by the retirement of the priest, and the entrance of Nadir. There is an impassioned love duet, the effect of which is heightened by a raging storm without: "Ton coeur n’a pas compris (You have not understood). Nourabad, returning unexpectedly, overhears the lovers, and summons the people. Zurga, as chief and judge, desires to be merciful for the sake of his friend. But, Nourabad tears the veil from Leila. It is the woman Nadir has sworn never to see -- the woman Zurga also loves. Enraged, he passes sentence of death upon them

In the third act, the camp of Zurga, Leila expresses her willingness to die, but pleads for Nadir, "Pour noi je ne crains rien" (I have no fear). Zurga is implacable, until he recognizes the necklace she wears as one he had given many years before to the girl who refused when he was a fugitive to deliver him to his enemies. The scene changes to the place of execution, where has been erected a funeral pyre. Just as the guilty lovers are to be led to their death, a distant glow is seen. Zurga cries out that the camp is on fire. The people rush away to fight the flames. Zurga tells Leila and Nadir that he set fire to the camp. He then unfastens their chains and bids them flee. Terzet: "O lumière sante" (O sacred light).

From a hiding place Nourabad has witnessed the scene. When the people return, he denounces Zurga’s act in setting fire to the camp and permitting Leila and Nadir to escape. Zurga is compelled to mount the pyre. A deep glow indicates that the forest is ablaze. The people prostrate themselves to Brahma, whose wrath they fear.