What does Don Giovanni mean?
Don Giovanni is the name of a young man who likes to seduce women. His character is paralleled to Don Juan.
Who composed the opera Don Giovanni?
The opera was composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and set to the libretto (words/text) by Lorenzo Da Ponte. The opera is based on the legend of Don Juan. Specifically the opera Don Giovanni Tenorio by Giuseppe Gazzaniga and Giovanni Bertati.
* Mozart and Da Ponte also worked together on the opera Le Nozze di Figaro. Read more about this opera by clicking on the links below:
- Opera - Le Nozze di Figaro - Synopsis
- Opera - 'Le Nozze Di Figaro' - Dove Sono
- Opera - Le Nozze di Figaro - Facts About The Opera
When was the opera first performed?
The opera was first performed on the 29th of October 1787 at the National Theater in Prague.
Who were the lead singers of the first production?
The singers of Don Giovanni's premiere in 1787 were:
- Luigi Bassi as Don Giovanni
- Felice Ponziani as Leporello
- Giuseppe Lolli as Il Commendatore
- Teresa Saporiti as Donna Anna
- Antonio Baglioni as Don Ottavio
- Katherina Micelli as Donna Elvira
- Giuseppe Lolli as Masetto
- Caterina Bondini as Zerlina
Where is the opera set?
The opera is set in Seville.
What is important about the music of this opera?
- The opera is a dramma giocoso, a form of comic and tragedy.
- After its premiere in Prague, Mozart added and removed several musical parts in order to suit the singers that would premiere the opera in Vienna.
- The cast for which Mozart created another version of the opera were:
- Francesco Albertarelli as Don Giovanni
- Francesco Benucci as Leporello
- Francesco Bussani as Il Commendatore
- Aloysia Weber as Donna Anna
- Francesco Morella as Don Ottavio
- Caterina Cavalieri as Donna Elvira
- Francesco Bussani as Masetto
- Luisa Mombelli as Zerlina
What is Le Nozze di Figaro's historical background?
- Mozart composed Don Giovanni at the age of 31.
- The opera was originally supposed to be a court spectacle, commissioned for the wedding of Prince Anthony of Saxony and Archduchess Maria Theresa. However, it was not ready to be performed at the wedding while in the meantime the location of the wedding changed from Prague to Dresden. As a result was never performed for that event originally commissioned for.
- Don Giovanni is considered to be one of the greatest operas of all time.
- There are different versions of the opera, where Mozart added musical excerpts or removed some to accommodate the singers.
- Both premieres in 1787, (Prague and Vienna) were conducted by Mozart himself.
- Mozart first used the trombone in Don Giovanni's orchestral part.
- In the opera's first performance, the same singer performed the roles of the Commendatore and Masetto.
- In the Finale, Don Giovanni comes face to face with death through the entrance of the Commendatore.
You can read more about the Zerlina's Aria in the blog: Opera - Don Giovanni- Aria - "Batti Batti"
References:
Opera Colorado: Don Giovanni 101 – Characters and Plot
Britannica: Don Giovanni
Research Gate: The Original Portrayal of Mozart's Don Giovanni
Greek National Opera: Don Giovanni
Classic Cat: Don Giovanni
English National Opera: Don Giovanni
The Metropolitan Opera: Don Giovanni's Downfall
Arizona Opera: Did You Know? Don Giovanni
2026
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