Life of Mozart

—)SUCCESS IN PRAGUE. I33the appointed time.'^^ There was barely time to write out theparts before the beginning of the opera, which indeed wassomewhat delayed on this account. The well-drilled andinspired orchestra played the overture at sightso well that,during the introduction to the first act, Mozart observedto the instrumentalists near him: " Some of the notes fellunder the desks, it is true, but the overture went capitallyupon the whole." The success of the first representationwas brilliant. The theatre was full to overflowing, andMozart's appearance as conductor at the piano was thesignal for enthusiastic clapping and huzzas. The suspensewith which the overture was awaited found vent in a verystorm of applause, which accompanied the opera frombeginning to end. The cast of this performance was asfollows :Don Giovanni, giovane cavaliere estrema- 1 c- t• •t^,. \° \ Signor Luigi Bassi.mente licenzioso ... ... ... ...Donna Anna, dama promessa sposa di ... Signora Teresa Saporiti.Don Ottavio ... ... ... ... ... Signor Antonio Baglioni.Commendatory ... ... ... ... ... Signor Giuseppe LoUi.Dow«« EfozViX, dama di Burgos abbandonata ) e- /^ x • -mi- u-..^ ^. ' ^^.[ Signora Catenna Micelli.di Don (jiovanni ... ... ... ... JLeporello, servo di Don Giovanni ... ... Signor Felice Ponziani.Masetto, amante di ... ... ... ... Signor Giuseppe LoUi.Zerlina, contadina ... Signora Teresa Bondini.The performance, though not including any virtuosi ofthe first rank or fame, was considered an excellent one ;inspiring influence of thethemaestro and the elevated mood ofthe public united to induce the performers to put forth alltheir powers, and stimulated them to extraordinary efforts.Guardasoni, who was associated with Bondini in the managementof the theatre,^^ was so delighted with the success of^1 In Mozart's Thematic Catalogue the subject of the overture is entered underdate October 28, with the title, " II Dissoluto Punito, o il Don Giovanni : Operabuffa in 2 Atti—Fezzi di Musica 24." The overture is, as usual, written as aseparate piece, hastily, but with scarcely any alterations.2^ A very unfavourable account of his greed for gain and unscrupulousnessis given in the A. M. Z., IL, p. 537.