Mozart's next work, 'Don Giovanni' (October 29, 1787), was written for
Prague, a city which had always shown him more real appreciation than
Vienna. It was adapted by Da Ponte from a Spanish tale which had already
been utilised by Moliere. Although, so far as incident goes, it is not
perhaps an ideal libretto, it certainly contains many of the elements of
success. The characters are strongly marked and distinct, and the
supernatural part of the story, which appealed particularly to Mozart's
imagination and indeed determined him to undertake the opera, is managed
with consummate skill.
Don Giovanni, a licentious Spanish nobleman, who is attracted by the
charms of Donna Anna, the daughter of the Commandant of Seville, breaks
into her palace under cover of night, in the hope of making her his own.
She resists him and calls for help. In the struggle which ensues the
Commandant is killed by Don Giovanni, who escapes unrecognised. Donna
Elvira, his deserted wife, has pursued him to Seville, but he employs
his servant Leporello to occupy her attention while he pays court to
Zerlina, a peasant girl, who is about to marry an honest clodhopper
named Masetto. Donna Anna now recognises Don Giovanni as her father's
assassin, and communicates her discovery to her lover, Don Ottavio;
Elvira joins them, and the three vow vengeance against the libertine.
Don Giovanni gives a ball in honour of Zerlina's marriage, and in the
course of the festivities seizes an opportunity of trying to seduce her.
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