Life of Mozart

DA PONTE'S LIBRETTO. 163tance in discovering the murderer and bringing him to justice ; whilehe is conversing with Donna Anna, Elvira again interposes and warnsher that he is a hypocrite. He again secretly represents her as amaniac who must be humoured,^^' and goes out with her. Donna Anna'ssuspicions are aroused, and observing Don Giovanni closely, sherecognises her father's murderer in him, acquaints Don Ottavio withthe circumstances, and urges him to avenge her father's death. Unwillingto give easy credence to such a grave accusation, he decides toexamine thoroughly into the affair, and to clear up the doubts as to DonGiovanni. The latter, disembarrassed of Donna Elvira, commands abanquet to be prepared in honour of the bridal party. Masetto, whomZerlina has with difficulty appeased by her coaxing endearments,conceals himself when he sees Don Giovanni approaching ; after somedemure behaviour on Zerlina's part, Masetto comes forward, and DonGiovanni, with quick presence of mind, persuades them both to accompanyhim into the house for the banquet. Donna Anna and Don Ottavioenter with Elvira, who has explained everything to them, and at herinstigation they all put on masks, in order to observe Don Giovanniwithout being recognised ;Leporello, perceiving them, conveys the expectedinvitation to enter, which they accept. It was at that timecustomary in Venice to go about masked, and strangers thus disguisedwere invited to enter where any festivities were going on, thus heighteningthe frolic of the masquerade. As they enter the hall, there is apause in the dance ; the guests take refreshment, Don Giovanni devoteshimself to Zerlina, and Masetto, his jealousy again aroused, seeks towarn her ; then the masked strangers become the centre of observation,are politely greeted, and the dance begins again. Donna Anna and DonOttavio tread a minuet, the dance of the aristocracy^^^; Donna Annawith difficulty restrains her conflicting emotions, which vent themselvesin occasional interjections, while Don Ottavio exhorts her to remaincalm. Elvira follows every movement of Don Giovanni ; the latterinvites Zerlina to dance, and Leporello forces Masetto to dance withhim in order to distract his attention from Zerlina. At the rightmoment Don Giovanni carries off Zerlina. Leporello hurries after towarn him ; her cries for help are heard, and all rush to her rescue. DonGiovanni meets them, dragging in Leporello, whom he gives out to bethe culprit, and threatens with death ; but he is surrounded on all sides,the masks are thrown off, and he finds himself in the midst of his victims,137 This shows the progress made upon Gazzaniga's work. That which wasa mere comic by-play is here used as a motive for giving a common interest tothe characters, and leads to the recognition of Don Giovanni, and to theclimax of the finale.138At Hamburg, members of noble families required that minuets should beplayed alternately with the country dances, " that they might not be obliged tomix with the crowd" (Meyer, L. Schröder, I., p. 150).M 2