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2 Ensemble Cast in 'Don Giovanni' (c) Ken Howard for Santa Fe Opera, 2016

Don Giovanni 2016

July 2 - August 26, 2016

“He betrayed me, he abandoned me — why do I still love him?”

A flawless combination of hilarity, fear, romance and tragedy, Mozart’s setting of the Don Juan story is an opera with everything, including some of the greatest music ever composed for the lyric stage. Is Don Giovanni a rogue or a madman? All will be revealed in this beloved classic.

Music By
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Libretto By
Lorenzo da Ponte

Synopsis

Act I

Leporello waits outside the Commendatore’s palace for Don Giovanni, who is inside trying to seduce Donna Anna. Giovanni rushes out, pursued by Anna, who cries for help. Her father, the Commendatore, comes to her aid, but Giovanni kills him in a duel and flees. Donna Anna demands that Don Ottavio swear vengeance on Giovanni. Nearby, Leporello pleads with his master to reform, but Giovanni is already flirting with a traveler. She is Donna Elvira, one of his past conquests, who is trying to track him down. Leporello distracts Elvira by reciting the list of his master’s seductions, while Giovanni escapes. A group of peasants is celebrating the wedding of Zerlina and Masetto. Giovanni immediately takes an interest in Zerlina and orders Leporello to takes everyone else to his palace to continue the party. Elvira interrupts his wooing and spirits Zerlina away, then warns Anna and Ottavio not to trust Giovanni. Zerlina begs Masetto to forgive her and they go to Giovanni’s palace. Elvira, Ottavio, and Anna enter the palace in disguise, spying on Giovanni. Leporello distracts Masetto as his master ushers Zerlina into another room. When she cries out for help, Giovanni accuses Leporello as her attacker. Anna, Ottavio and Elvira reveal themselves and denounce Giovanni, who again escapes.

Act II

Outside the inn where Donna Elvira is staying, Giovanni exchanges cloaks with Leporello, as part of his plan to seduce Elvira’s maid. Giovanni lures Elvira down to the street and, mistaking servant for master, Elvira lets the disguised Leporello lead her off, while Giovanni serenades her maid. Anna, Ottavio, Zerlina, and Masetto come upon Leporello (still in disguise) and Elvira. They threaten him, but he reveals his identity and escapes. Leporello and Giovanni reunite in a cemetery. They hear a voice coming from the statue of the slain Commendatore, warning Giovanni of his impending doom. Giovanni laughs and insists that Leporello invite the statue to dinner. It accepts, much to their surprise. At Giovanni’s dinner, Elvira begs him to reform, but he dismisses her. The Commendatore’s statue arrives and again warns Giovanni to repent. He refuses and plummets into hell. The others characters arrive and Leporello explains what has happened. They all announce their plans for the future, then sing the moral of the tale, “Those who do evil come to an evil ending.”

Artists

Daniel Okulitch headshot

Daniel Okulitch

Bass-baritone

Don Giovanni

Leah Crocetto headshot

Leah Crocetto

Soprano

Donna Anna

Keri Alkema headshot

Keri Alkema

Soprano

Donna Elvira

Edgaras Montvidas headshot

Edgaras Montvidas

Tenor

Don Ottavio

Kyle Ketelsen headshot

Kyle Ketelsen

Bass-baritone

Leporello

Rhian Lois headshot

Rhian Lois

Soprano

Zerlina

Soloman Howard

Soloman Howard

Bass

Commendatore

Jarrett Ott headshot

Jarrett Ott

Baritone

Masetto

John Nelson headshot

John Nelson

Conductor

Ron Daniels headshot

Ron Daniels

Director

Riccardo Hernandez headshot

Riccardo Hernandez

Scenic Designer

Emily Rebholz headshot

Emily Rebholz

Costume Designer

Marcus Doshi

Marcus Doshi

Lighting Designer

Peter Nigrini headshot

Peter Nigrini

Projection Designer

Nicola Bowie headshot

Nicola Bowie

Choreographer

Rick Sordelet headshot

Rick Sordelet

Fight & Intimacy Director

Fight Director

Christian Sordelet headshot

Christian Kelly-Sordelet

Fight & Intimacy Director

Fight Director

Susanne Sheston headshot

Susanne Sheston

Chorus Master