Children must be at least six years old to attend.

Miami performances are at the Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, 1300 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami.

Fort Lauderdale performances are at the Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW 5th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale.

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Don Giovanni

Audio Clips:

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte

Considered by many to be the most perfect opera every written, Mozart's Don Giovanni continues to thrill audiences today as it did at its premiere in 1787. Don Giovanni was the second collaboration between Mozart and librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte following their success with The Marriage of Figaro. Mozart used the story of the infamous lover, Don Juan, to create one of opera's most vivid characters and one of the world's most popular operas.

Following his success at the Metropolitan Opera, David Pittsinger returns to Florida Grand Opera to sing a favorite role. He was last seen at FGO as Scarpia in Tosca. Bass-baritone Tom Corbeil joins the cast as the Don's servant Leporello. Andrew Bidlack, who returns as Don Ottavio, made his FGO debut as Almaviva in the 2009/2010 season's The Barber of Seville. Jonathan G. Michie, who first appeared with FGO in Lucia di Lammermoor in 2010, returns as Masetto, and Morris Robinson, who was seen in FGO's 2006 Rigoletto and Aida productions, returns as the Commendatore. The production will be led by conductor Andrew Bisantz.

Cast

Don Giovanni
David Pittsinger

Donna Anna
Jacquelyn Wagner

Leporello
Tom Corbeil

Don Ottavio
Andrew Bidlack

Donna Elvira
Ana María Martínez

The Commendatore
Morris Robinson

Masetto
Jonathan G. Michie

Conductor
Andrew Bisantz

Stage Director
John Pascoe

Set and Costume Designer
John Pascoe

Sung in Italian with English and Spanish projected titles.

This production is made possible by a gift from Randy Gage.

Photo © Karin Cooper for Washington National Opera

Synopsis

Seville, Spain, 17th Century


Act I

Leporello, Don Giovanni’s servant, is outside Donna Anna’s house. The disguised Don Giovanni runs out, with Donna Anna, calling for help, in pursuit. The commotion awakens her father, the Commendatore. In the ensuing duel, the Commendatore is fatally wounded. Don Giovanni and Leporello escape, and Donna Anna and her betrothed, Don Ottavio, return to discover the corpse. They swear vengeance.

Don Giovanni and Leporello encounter Donna Elvira, whom the Don had seduced and abandoned. He escapes, leaving Leporello to explain that she is but one in a list of 2,065 conquests. She swears revenge.

Master and servant come upon a peasant wedding party. The Don, taken with the bride-to-be, Zerlina, invites them to his villa. Masetto, Zerlina’s intended, is suspicious when he is sent off with Leporello, but Zerlina reassures him. Left alone, the Don woos Zerlina, promising marriage. As she gives in, Donna Elvira appears and warns Zerlina of the Don’s intentions, spiriting her away. Don Ottavio and Donna Anna enlist the Don’s help in discovering her father’s killer. Donna Elvira returns and, astonishing the noble couple, accuses Don Giovanni of betraying her. The Don questions her sanity, but Donna Anna suddenly recognizes his voice as that of the murderer. She vows to have vengeance, and Don Ottavio expresses his love for her.

Zerlina tries to reassure Masetto of her fidelity. At the Don’s approach, Masetto hides, alarmed to see the Don try to seduce Zerlina. He confronts them, and the Don reproaches him for having left her alone. He escorts them inside. Three masked figures arrive: Donna Anna, Donna Elvira, and Don Ottavio. Leporello invites them in.

At the party, Don Giovanni leads Zerlina into an adjoining room. When she screams, the guests decide to break down the door, but the Don appears, dragging Leporello and accusing him of the attack. No one believes the lie, and the guests turn on their host. The Don, undaunted, forces his way out.

Act II

Leporello tries to quit. Instead, Don Giovanni persuades him to exchange clothes so he can seduce Donna Elvira’s maid. When Donna Elvira herself appears on a balcony, the Don lures her down into the arms of Leporello, whom she mistakes for him. When they leave, Don Giovanni serenades the maid. Masetto appears with a band of men in search of Don Giovanni. As Leporello, the Don sends them off. He detains Masetto and beats him up. Zerlina finds Masetto and comforts him.

Leporello tries to escape from Donna Elvira, but Don Ottavio, Donna Anna, Zerlina, and Masetto intercept him. They are dismayed to discover he is not the Don. He quickly escapes. After Donna Anna leaves, Don Ottavio asks the others to comfort her while he avenges her. Donna Elvira laments her betrayal.

Don Giovanni and Leporello hide in a cemetery. They are interrupted by a voice warning the Don that his end is near. The voice seems to come from the statue on the Commendatore’s monument. Don Giovanni forces Leporello to invite the statue to dinner. Leporello is terrified when the statue accepts.

At Don Giovanni’s villa, the Don’s meal is interrupted by the arrival of Donna Elvira, who urges him to mend his ways. He refuses, inviting her to join him. She leaves, only to scream and rush back. Don Giovanni sends Leporello to investigate. He returns quaking with fright to report that the statue is approaching. Don Giovanni opens the door. The statue requests that Don Giovanni dine with him. Don Giovanni agrees and accepts the statue’s hand. The statue seizes him, demanding that he repent, but Don Giovanni will not, and is dragged unrepentant into Hell.

When the others learn of the Don’s fate, they conclude it was well deserved.

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