DON GIOVANNI Opera in two acts by Mozart, text by Lorenzo da Ponte First performance at the National Theatre, Prague, October 28, 1787 THE PATRICIA & RODES HART PRODUCTION October 6 & 8, 2016 Andrew Jackson Hall, Tennessee Performing Arts Center Directed by John Hoomes • Conducted by Dean Williamson Featuring the Nashville Opera Orchestra CAST & CHARACTERS The Commendatore Peter Volpe* Donna Anna, his daughter Karen Slack* Don Ottavio, her betrothed Yi Li* Don Giovanni, a young nobleman David Adam Moore* Leporello, his servant Donovan Singletary* Donna Elvira, a lady of Burgos Alyson Cambridge* Zerlina, a country girl Laura Krumm* Masetto, betrothed to Zerlina Jose Rubio* * Nashville Opera debut TICKETS Nashville Opera, 615.832.5242, nashvilleopera.org Available at all Ticketmaster outlets or at 615.255.ARTS MORE INFORMATION Contact Nashville Opera at 615.832.5242 or visit nashvilleopera.org. Study Guide Contributors Anna Young, Education Director Cara Schneider, Creative Director THE STORY ACT I ACT II At night, outside the Commendatore’s palace, Leporello Under Elvira’s balcony, Leporello exchanges cloaks with his grumbles about his duties as servant to Don Giovanni, a master to allow Giovanni to woo Elvira’s maid in disguise. dissolute nobleman. Soon the masked Don appears, pur - Leporello leads Elvira off. When Masetto passes with a sued by Donna Anna, the Commendatore’s daughter, whom band of armed peasants bent on punishing Giovanni, he has tried to seduce. The Commendatore himself answers Giovanni gives them false directions. After the armed peas - Anna’s cries. Don Giovanni kills him in a duel and then ants exit, Giovanni takes great pleasure in beating up escapes. Anna now returns with her fiancé, Don Ottavio. Masetto. Zerlina arrives and tenderly consoles her husband. Finding her father dead, she demands that Ottavio swear In a passageway, Elvira and Leporello are surprised by vengeance on the assassin. Anna, Ottavio, Zerlina, and Masetto who, mistaking servant At dawn, Giovanni flirts with a high-strung traveler out - for master, threaten Leporello. Frightened, he unmasks and side a tavern. She turns out to be Donna Elvira, a woman escapes. When Anna departs, Ottavio affirms his confi - he once seduced who is now on his trail. Giovanni escapes dence in their love. while Leporello distracts Elvira by reciting his master’s long Elvira, frustrated at her continued betrayal by Giovanni, list of female conquests. voices her rage. Peasants arrive, celebrating the nuptials of their friends Leporello catches up with his master in a cemetery Zerlina and Masetto. When Giovanni joins in, he pursues where a voice warns Giovanni of his doom. They find a the bride, angering the groom, who is removed by statue of the Commendatore, which the Don demands Leporello. Alone with Zerlina, the Don applies his charm, Leporello invite to dinner. When the servant reluctantly but Elvira interrupts and protectively whisks the girl away. stammers an invitation, the statue accepts. Giovanni greets Donna Anna, now in mourning, and In her home, the mourning Anna puts off Ottavio’s Ottavio. When Elvira returns to denounce him as a seducer, offer of marriage until her father is avenged. Giovanni quickly declares Elvira mad and leads her off. Leporello is serving Giovanni’s dinner when Elvira rush - Anna, having recognized his voice, realizes Don Giovanni es in, begging the Don, whom she still loves, to reform. He was her attacker. contemptuously throws her out. At the door, her screams Outside the palace, Zerlina begs Masetto to forgive her announce the Commendatore’s statue. Giovanni boldly flirting. Masetto hides when the Don appears, emerging refuses warnings to repent, even in the face of death. from the shadows as Giovanni corners Zerlina. The three Giovanni is dragged to hell. enter the palace together. Elvira, Anna, and Ottavio arrive in dominoes and masks and are invited to the wedding feast by Leporello. EPILOGUE During the festivities, Leporello entices Masetto into the dance as Giovanni drags Zerlina into a side room. When As day breaks over the city, Elvira, Anna, Ottavio, Zerlina, Zerlina’s cries for help put him on the spot, Giovanni tries Masetto and Leporello gather to plan their futures and state to blame Leporello, but no one is convinced. Elvira, Anna the moral: “Such is the fate of the evildoer: the death of the and Ottavio unmask and confront Giovanni. Giovanni sinner always reflects his life.” escapes. LISTEN FOR THIS! Act I “Ah! Fuggi il traditor!” Act II Donna Elivira witnesses the flirtations and “Madamina, il catalogo” near seduction of Zerlina by Govanni and “Deh vieni all finestra” Also known as the “Catalogue Aria,” is appaled! She warns Zerlina of “the trai - While disguised as his servant Leporello, Leporello tries to deter Donna Eliva from tor” telling her not to make the same mis - Don Giovanni serenades Donna Elvira’s her infatuation of Don Giovanni. He gives take she made of trusting and loving Don maid. the noblewoman a detailed account of Giovanni. Giovanni’s numerous lovers. He describes “Vedrai, carino” these conquests as ladies of every size, “Finch’han dal vino” Zerlina consoles Masetto after he is beaten. shape, vocation and age. In the last line of Don Giovanni sings of his favorite pur - She tells him the healing balm he needs for the aria, Leporello says, “If she wears a suits: parities, wine, women and song in his wounds can be found in her love. skirt, you know what he does.” what is also known as the “Champagne Aria.” “Non mi dir” “Là ci darem la mano” Donna Anna struggles with her emotion Don Giovanni seduces Zerlina during this “Batti, batti, o bel Masetto” during this famous aria. After arguing iconic duet. He uses his station and charm Zerlina coquettishly tells Masetto to beat with her betrothed, Don Ottavio, she is to persuade her to run away with him, her after her supposed infidelity with Don torn between loving him and finding even though she is to marry Masetto the Giovanni. She urges him to make peace vengeance for her father. next day! The soprano and baritone line and asks for his forgiveness. pair together in lovely harmony at the end of the piece illustrating that Giovanni’s persuasion has worked and the two are in agreement. Nashville Opera’s DON GIOVANNI , 2007, features sets by Kris Stone. RECOMMENDED RECORDINGS & VIDEO Warner Classics, 1959 (CD) Opus Arte, 2004 (DVD) Conductor: Carlo Maria Giulini Conductor: Riccardo Muti Joan Sutherland, Elisabeth Schwartzkopf, Graziella Sciutti, Thomas Allen, Edita Gruberova, Ann Murray, Claudio Desderi Gottlob Frick Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro all Scala Philharmonia Orchestra Deutsche Grammophon, 2005 (DVD) Decca, 1959 (CD) Conductor: James Levine Conductor: Josef Krips Bryn Terfel, Renee Fleming, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Solveig Cesare Siepi, Suzanne Danco, Lisa della Casa, Fernando Corena Kringelborn Wiener Philharmoniker Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Deutsche Grammophon, 1978 (CD) Deutsche Grammophon, 1954 (DVD) Conductor: Karl Böhm Conductor: Wilhelm Furtwängler Sherrill Milnes, Peter Schreier, Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Edith Cesare Siepi, Lisa della Casa, Elisabeth Grümmer, Walter Berry Mathis Wiener Philharmoniker Wiener Philharmoniker Nashville Opera’s Don Giovanni features baritone David Adam Moore in the title role. Here he appears in a staged production of Schubert’s Winterreise by his NYC-based multimedia consortium, GLMMR ABOUT THE COMPOSER Name: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Dates: 1756 –1791 LIFE AND CAREER Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria to an illustrious, musical fam - ily. Both his father, Leopold, and older sister, Nannerl, proved to be accomplished musicians. At the age of three, Mozart learned to play the clavier; an instrument similar to the modern-day piano. By the time he was four years old, he had composed his first clavier concer - to; writing music before he was able to write words. So adept at music, he taught himself to play the violin by the age of five. Recognizing the genius of both children, father Leopold along with sister Nannerl, embarked on a professional tour of Europe, revealing to the world his two young prodigies. The Mozart family played hugely successful concerts before royalty and aristocracy all over the continent; Marie Antoinette being one of many famous It is fascinating to acknowledge the trouble Mozart experienced dignitaries for which the children played. Mozart composed his finding steady work. Augsburg, Mannheim, Paris and Munich all first symphony during this time and by the age of 12, he had written proved to contain little opportunity for steady employment, and his first opera. the family fell into great debt, even pawning valuables to keep sol - vent. At much disapproval from his father, Mozart refused to The success of the concert tour provided Mozart and his family return to Salzburg and work again for the Prince Colloredo’s court. with many gifts for their performances, but little money. Due to Due to his genius and voracious appetite for composition, the primitive travel conditions and the difficulty of their schedules, all young composer began to write music at will and without the ram - three suffered near fatal illnesses. Often the family had to wait for ifications of belonging to a court. reimbursements from benefactors and invitations from nobility. Unfortunately, poor money handling skills would plaque Mozart Mozart began his new life in Vienna and studied the works of his entire life. Johann Sebastian Bach, and George Frederick Handel. He befriend - ed Joseph Haydn, the inspiration of his six string quartets, and to In 1769, Mozart and his father traveled to Italy and were immersed whom all were dedicated. Mutual admiration was obvious, as in Italian opera, culture, and style. While in Rome, the young Haydn once wrote to Mozart’s father, “I tell you before God, and as Mozart attended two performances of Gregorio Allegri’s Miserere, an honest man, your son is the greatest composer known to me by at the famed Sistine Chapel.