Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

THE story in its revised form is as follows :-Two cavaliers, Don Ferrando and Don Guglielmo,
have great faith in the fidelity of their betrothed ladies, Fiordiligi and Dorabella; but being laughed
at for their confidence by a cynical old bachelor, Don Alfonso, they allow him to persuade them to
put the two ladies through a severe test. They consequently pretend to depart on a long journey
with their regiment; but in a few days they return disguised as officers of another regiment, and,
having altered their appearance entirely, they procure an introduction to the two ladies and
proceed to pay them great attention, each making love to the betrothed of his friend. Fiordiligi and
Dorabella are very indignant at the attentions paid to them by the new-comers, and their lovers are
consequently delighted, and triumph over the unbelieving Don Alfonso; but the wily old bachelor
arranges a deeper plot still. He persuades the two young men still to keep up their disguise but to
feign such despair at the indifference of the ladies that they recklessly pretend to poison
themselves in their presence. Ferrando and Guglielmo agree to this also, and secure the aid of
Despina, the attendant on the two ladies, to assist them. In this plot Don Alfonso very nearly
succeeds; for when the strange officers feign to poison themselves in their presence Fiordiligi and
Dorabella are terribly concerned, and show great pity for the love-sick swains. Despina, however,
at last considers it unfair that her young mistresses should be thus deceived further, and she finds
means to reveal the secret of the plot to them. The two girls now carry the war into the enemys
camp, and play a fine trick upon their lovers. They boldly accept the new suitors, and even go so
far as to sign the marriage contracts, taking care, however, that these shall be false documents, the
notary being Despina in borrowed garments; and then when Ferrando and Guglielmo appear in
their own form once more, furious at their supposed fickleness, they tease them still further,
keeping up the deception a little longer, and then at last laughingly reveal the fact that they have
cleverly turned the tables on them. The young men are now ashamed that they should have even
pretended to doubt the fidelity of their chosen ladies, and very contritely sue for pardon; and this
being readily granted the happy couples are reunited, and the old bachelor is compelled to retire
crestfallen.
110. DON GIOVANNI
Opera Comique in Two Acts By Johann Chrysostomus Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Libretto By Da Ponte
First Produced Prague, October, 1787
Chief Characters Donna Anna, Donna Elvira, Zerlina, Don Giovanni, Don Ottavio, Leporello,
Masetto
THE scene is laid in Spain, in the city of Seville. Don Giovanni, an unscrupulous, reckless and
licentious young nobleman, with the aid of his servant, Leporello, enters the chamber of Donna
Anna, the beautiful daughter of an old Spanish Grandee, the Governor of the City, and attempts to
carry her off as he has already captured many other fair ladies of Seville. The ladys father,
however, hearing his daughters cries, comes out to defend her, together with her betrothed, Don
Ottavio; and in the struggle which ensues the Governor is slain by Don Giovanni, who makes his
escape with his servant. Donna Anna makes a vow to bring her fathers murderer to death, and her
lover agrees to assist her in her search for the libertine, his reward to be the hand of the lady he
loves, and who now refuses to wed him until her vow is consummated. Don Giovanni, however, is
not the least disturbed by the pursuit of the lady who seeks revenge on him; and, ignoring also the