Discover the story of Mozart's Don Giovanni

Seduction and a duel

Leporello waits outside the Commendatore’s home as his master, Don Giovanni, is inside seducing Donna Anna, the Commendatore’s daughter. The masked Giovanni flees, with Anna in pursuit.

The ﬁgure of Donna Anna, too, is ﬁrmly rooted in this Don Juan tradi-tion, and represents one of the legend’s earliest heroines. Likewise, in Mozart’s operas, she is a heroic component. Doubly injured by Don Gio-vanni’s aggression, Donna Anna grips us with her seriousness; from the. Profile page of horse DONNA ANNA Disciplines: Dressage. Olympic Games; Gold medal - First place: Gold medal - First place: Silver medal - Second place. Suddenly, Giovanni and Donna Anna rush out of the palace. They are struggling. Anna screams and unsuccessfully tries to discover the masked Giovanni’s identity. Her father appears, brandishing a sword, and challenges Giovanni to a duel; Anna runs to get help. Giovanni, at first reluctant, accepts the challenge and proceeds to kill the old man.

Awakened by the commotion, the Commendatore challenges Giovanni to a duel, which ends in the old man’s death. After Giovanni and Leporello flee, Anna and her fiancé, Don Ottavio, swear vengeance upon the Commendatore’s mysterious killer.

An old conquest

Giovanni and Leporello overhear the lament of an abandoned woman. Giovanni approaches to seduce her but soon recognises her as Donna Elvira, a woman he has already seduced and deserted.

Giovanni orders Leporello to distract her while he escapes. Leporello informs Elvira that hers is just one name in the long catalogue of Giovanni’s conquests.

Photo: Bill Cooper

Wedding party

Giovanni and Leporello happen upon villagers celebrating the wedding of Zerlina and Masetto. Giovanni directs Leporello to distract Masetto so he can be alone with Zerlina, but Elvira interrupts the seduction.

Anna and Ottavio arrive, enlisting Giovanni’s help to find the Commendatore’s killer. Elvira’s denunciations of Giovanni stir their suspicions, but he tells them Elvira is mad.

After Giovanni leaves, Anna tells Ottavio she recognised Giovanni’s voice as that of her father’s slayer.

Killer confronted

Masetto scolds Zerlina for flirting with Giovanni, but she persuades him to forgive her. Giovanni invites the couple, along with three mysterious masquers (actually Anna, Ottavio and Elvira) to a party at his home.

At the party, when Zerlina’s screams interrupt the festivities, Giovanni falsely accuses Leporello of attacking her. Anna, Ottavio and Elvira unmask and confront Giovanni, who escapes.

Disguise, seduction and escape

Leporello threatens to leave his master but Giovanni convinces him to stay. Switching clothes with Leporello, Giovanni serenades Elvira’s maid while Leporello, dressed as Giovanni, diverts Elvira.

Giovanni, still disguised as Leporello, meets Masetto, who is leading a vengeful posse in search of the Don. Giovanni tricks Masetto and escapes. Zerlina consoles her fiancé.

Ambush and lament

Leporello, disguised as Giovanni, is trying to lose Elvira when he is ambushed by Ottavio, Anna, Zerlina and Masetto, who think they’ve caught Giovanni. Leporello reveals his identity, begs for mercy and escapes.

Ottavio reasserts his intention to avenge Anna. Elvira, left alone, laments her betrayal by Giovanni.

Photo: Bill Cooper

A dinner invitation

Meeting up in a cemetery, Giovanni and Leporello encounter an effigy of the slain Commendatore. Sketches school. Giovanni demands that Leporello invite it to dinner, and, to Leporello’s horror, the figure accepts.

Ottavio assures Anna her father’s murder will soon be avenged, after which they may marry. But Anna is reluctant to wed so soon after her father’s death.

Just deserts

Giovanni dines alone, waited upon by Leporello. Elvira arrives, urging Giovanni to reform, but he scorns her. The Commendatore arrives for dinner, demanding that Giovanni atone for his sins, but he refuses and meets his destiny.

Anna, Ottavio, Elvira, Masetto and Zerlina enter in search of Giovanni but find only the stunned Leporello, who describes his master’s fate. They all agree evildoers must meet the terrible end they deserve.

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