Life of Mozart

——GLUCK'S ballet, " DON JUAN." I57Unfortunately we have no hints as to the details of themusic, which consists for the most part of short andunelaborated dance melodies :mistress, Donna Anna,In the first division, Don Juan serenades hisand is admitted by her ; surprised by her uncle, he escapes into thestreet, and slays his pursuer. In the second division, Don Juan is givinga feast, at which Donna Anna is present, and dances a pas de deux withhim ; the appearance of the statue scares away the guests. After ashortstay, the Commendatore invites Don Juan, who accepts, and conductshim to the door. In the meantime the guests reassemble, butseized with fresh terror, rush from the house ; Don Juan prepares toseek the Commendatore alone, his servant, spite of threats and persuasions,refusing to accompany him. The third part takes place in themausoleum ; the Commendatore tries vainly to bring Don Juan torepentance, and finally plunges him into the abyss. In the last division,Don Juan is tormented by demons in the lower world ; he strives in vainto escape or to resist, and at last, in despair, he resigns himself and isdevoured by the flames.^"Ten years before Mozart's "Don Giovanni," a drammatragicomico, entitled " II Convitato di Pietra, ossia il Dissoluto,"was performed both at Vienna (first on August 21, 1777)and at Prague ; the composer was Vine. Righini.-^^^ Theplot is briefly as follows :^^^The fisher maiden Elisa, and her lover Ombrino, save Don Giovanniand his servant Arlechino from the waves. Don Giovanni, who hasbetrayed Isabella, daughter of the Duca d'Altamonte, in Naples, and is afugitive in consequence, readily wins the love of the too-confiding Elisa.The Commendatore di Loioa, returning from victorious war, is greetedby Don Alfonso in the name of the King of Castile, who has erected astatue to his honour, and promises to wed his daughter Donna Anna tothe Duca Ottavio. Donna Anna, in defiance of her father's threats,refuses the honour. Don Giovanni, whose crime and flight have beenmade known to Don Alfonso, enters with Arlechino the house of theCommendatore, where Donna Anna, having dismissed her maid Lisette,is preparing to retire to rest. He offers her violence, which she resists,and recognises him ; thereupon enters the Commendatore and falls in1" A ballet, " II Convitato di Pietra," was given in Naples in 1780 (Signorelli,Stor. Grit. d. Teatri, X., 2, p. 172)."a This opera was also performed in Braunschweig in 1782 (Cramer, Mag.f. Musik, I., p. 474.119 The book of the words printed in Vienna has on the title-page " da rappresentarsine' teatri privilegiati di Vienna 1' anno 1777.