House Programme

House Programme - Don Giovanni

Introduction of Opera Scenes Performance

Don Giovanni, an opera composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with an Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte, was first performed in 1787 at the National Theatre in Prague. Conducted by Mozart himself, the premiere was met with great acclaim, captivating audiences with its complexity and intensity. The opera is based on a legendary tale about Don Giovanni, a notorious nobleman who seduces countless women. His servant, Leporello, keeps a record of Giovanni’s many conquests. The plot thickens when Don Giovanni kills the Commendatore after failing to seduce his daughter, Donna Anna. This act sets off a chain of events filled with deception, betrayal, and revenge, leading to Giovanni's ultimate downfall. 

Though Mozart categorized the opera as a comic drama, Don Giovanni combines elements of both comedy and tragedy, blending light-hearted moments with dark, dramatic scenes. The story culminates in a dramatic finale where Giovanni is dragged to hell by the statue of the Commendatore, whom he had wronged. The opera's unique mix of styles and its exploration of moral themes have secured its reputation as one of the greatest operas ever written.