Don Giovanni

An intrigue is born, which we will witness and possibly participate throughout the entire opera of the great Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Act I

Night

Leporello – a companion, servant, secretary and biographer of Don Giovanni who invites the stranger for a small fee to familiarize himself with the adventures of his master, which he carefully records in his diary.

It contains everything: risky adventures, the hardships of a nomadic life, and most importantly, love stories.

The stranger disappears and Leporello witnesses a heartbreaking scene. Don Giovanni is having fun with girls and suddenly, in one of these seekers of carnal pleasures, he recognizes the “chaste” Donna Anna, Don Ottavio’s bride, hiding her face under a mask. The girl is furious, because she wanted to remain unrecognized, keeping under a mask the secret of her claims to intimacy with Giovanni. Il Commendatore, armed with a sword, hurries to the cry of his daughter.

The young lover is forced to defend himself. He has a dagger at hand, which for some reason was left by a stranger. The fight is lightning fast, and Il Commendatore falls dead. Don Giovanni and Leporello flee the crime scene, but Anna brings Ottavio there. Revenge on Giovanni is what will henceforth be the main business of this couple.

Morning

Another skirmish between Don Giovanni and Leporello is interrupted by the appearance of a beautiful stranger, hiding her face under a veil. However, Don Giovanni will be disappointed – this is his former beloved Elvira, a passionate relationship with whom was stormy, but short-lived, since the gentleman was constantly distracted by Elvira’s adorable servant. By the way, she is now next to the hostess.

Don Giovanni hastily disappears. The angry woman intends to pursue her lover, especially since the maid has slipped away with him. Leporello restrains Elvira, offering to read Don Giovanni’s “list of victims”: she is not neither the first nor the last…

A cheerful group of young people celebrates the engagement of Masetto and Zerlina. Don Giovanni joins them and invites the noisy company to his house. Zerlina draws attention to the courteous gentleman and is not averse to being alone with him. Masetto is furious: he insults Zerlina and leaves, thereby making it easier for Don Giovanni to seduce the girl. Zerlina makes a choice in favor of Don Giovanni, but at this moment Elvira appears. Both women are fighting for the attention and love of the man. Elvira pursues the running away Zerlina.

Anna and Ottavio appear and the devil’s game continues. Don Giovanni and Anna skillfully hide their acquaintance prior to the murder of Il Commendatore. Tireless Elvira returns again: she calls her former lover a hypocrite. Don Giovanni responds by declaring her crazy. Elvira in a rage rushes to Don Giovanni and... He takes her in his arms. Anna is seized with jealousy and publicly declares Don Giovanni Il Commendatore’s killer. Her story is theatrical, bears little resemblance to the truth, but Elvira is shocked: now she is obsessed with hatred for Giovanni for the “outraged” honor of Anna. Donna Anna calmly goes away, leaving Don Ottavio alone with his devastated soul.

Afternoon

Leporello enthusiastically tells his master about how, in the midst of the fun, disheveled Zerlina ran into the house, followed by the furious Elvira. Don Giovanni laughingly replies that all the fun is yet to come. Leporello clearly does not share Giovanni’s optimism, but his charm, as always, wins. Masetto and Zerlina sort out their relationship at dinner – the groom cannot forgive the bride that on the day of the engagement she left him alone, and she left with the first person they met. Experienced Zerlina quickly finds ways to peace and harmony, but at this very moment Don Giovanni’s voice is heard inviting everyone to the carnival, which he is organizing in honor of his friends Masetto and Zerlina. Seeing the embarrassment of his fiancée, Masetto becomes seized with another fit of jealousy.

Evening

The carnival is in full swing. Zerlina appears, followed by Don Giovanni. Masetto sneaks behind them with obviously ill intentions. Finding a jealous man, Don Giovanni is not at all embarrassed, he jokes and invites Masetto and Zerlina to continue having fun.
Elvira, Anna and Ottavio enter the room. They are in carnival costumes and masks that hide them from prying eyes. These three are determined to take revenge on the Il Commendatore’s killer. Leporello invites people in mysterious masks to take part in the carnival. The dancing begins. Masetto warns Zerlina and demands caution from her. Leporello, at the request of Don Giovanni, tries to deflect the attention of already pretty drunk Masetto from his master’s courtship of Zerlina. Seizing the moment, Don Giovanni drags her into one of the rooms. But Ottavio, Anna and Elvira are watching Giovanni, and Masetto also discovered the absence of the bride.

Suddenly, Zerlina is crying, who did not expect such frank actions from Don Giovanni in an inappropriate environment. She breaks free from the arms of the seducer and runs into the hall, fainting in the arms of Masetto. After her, with a drawn sword in his hand, Don Giovanni appears, who drags Leporello behind him, declaring that he, Leporello, wanted to take possession of Zerlina. Ottavio, Anna and Elvira demand from Don Giovanni not to break the comedy – the hour of reckoning is near. But there is no fear in Don Giovanni’s heart! He is ready to challenge everyone in the battle, but for now, he leaves the society of angry avengers with a laugh.

Act II

That same evening…

Leporello, outraged by the act of his master, who disgraced him in front of the guests at the carnival, refuses his service. This was an unfaltering determination, but ... a few coins thrown by Don Giovanni return the servant to a good mood. However, not for long. Don Giovanni tells Leporello that he wants to take possession of Donna Elvira’s maid by all means. In order to achieve desired outcome, it is needed to distract the hostess and change clothes. Don Giovanni’s place will be taken by Leporello, and Don Giovanni will temporarily become the servant. And then, be that as it may! Leporello is forced to obey. Then everything goes very well: the fooled Elvira finds herself in the arms of Leporello, and the frivolous maid is glad to have a love affair with Don Giovanni. He sings a serenade, and girls are charmed. Armed Masetto and his drinking companions are looking for a seducer. Don Giovanni pretends to be his drunken servant and even offers his help in punishing the “offender”. Having dispersed the crowd, Don Giovanni takes away the weapon from Masetto and beats the jealous man. Zerlina runs to Masetto’s cry. The unhappy man tells her about the incident. Zerlina calms the groom, bandages his wound, but her thoughts are with Don Giovanni ...

Elvira appears, accompanied by Leporello, who continues to play the role of his master. Leporello would be glad to get away from the frightened Elvira, but he fails – he is noticed by Ottavio and Anna, who have come to Il Commendatore’s grave. Here is Zerlina and Masetto. All of them are deceived by Don Giovanni’s clothes on Leporello and are ready to kill the villain. Elvira begs to have mercy on her lover, but they do not listen to her. Frightened, Leporello rips off his coat and hat, and the deception is revealed – the avengers see before them not Don Giovanni, but his servant. Elvira is ridiculed, Leporello recedes. Expressing contempt for Elvira, Anna leaves, Zerlina and Masetto follow her. Ottavio is left alone with Elvira, and then the true face of the “noble” avenger is revealed to her. Mockingly and cynically, he tries to take advantage of the woman’s weakness and master her. Elvira fights back: she is struck by Ottavio’s duplicity and begins to understand what danger Don Giovanni really faces.

Midnight

Don Giovanni and Leporello, fleeing from their pursuers, meet in the cemetery near the grave of Il Commendatore. Finally, they can change clothes. Paying attention to the statue, Don Giovanni tells the servant to read the inscription on the monument. Leporello reads: “For the dishonest murderer I will prepare reckoning even in the grave.” Laughing, Don Giovanni orders the servant to invite the statue to dinner. Leporello, trembling with fear, hands over the invitation to Il Commendatore. The statue nods and takes the invitation. Don Giovanni, deciding that someone is playing a trick on him, walks away with a laugh.

Anna and Ottavio are alone. Strange feelings possess them on the eve of the great sacrament of marriage. It becomes clear what is happening in the dead souls of these hypocrites – they do not love each other.

Don Giovanni at dinner at his house. Elvira rushes in again with reproaches. Having achieved nothing, she leaves Don Giovanni’s house, but suddenly her desperate cry is heard... Leporello screams just as terribly, running to find out what happened to Elvira.

And here is Il Commendatore appears himself! Or is it his ghost with a dagger in its chest? The figures of the participants in the devil’s game float like shadows next to Don Giovanni. With laughter, they greet the Il Commendatore’s who brought back to life. It was all a joke. To top it off, Il Commendatore offers Don Giovanni a goblet of wine, into which he poured some powder in front of the stunned libertine.

“Take risks! The chances are equal!” Don Giovanni drinks and falls dead.

Epilogue

Early morning

The “noble” society is confused – no one expected such an outcome. There was no poison! However, the confusion quickly passes, as the principle “everything is possible and everything is included” has worked. Everyone is satisfied – the game is a success. And what a game! Elvira appears. She did not have time to save her lover, and there is no limit to her grief. Leporello watches with horror the body of his master, which is indifferently carried away by the servants. Who needs it now? True, the merry company acquired his records, but how can money compensate for the loss of a person who... who... alive and cheerful! So life goes on! The participants of the game froze in emptiness and satiety in anticipation of the next intrigue. And Don Giovanni surrounded by young beauties, continues on his way as if nothing had happened...