Classical Opera and Mozarts Don Giovanni

2 types of Italian operas:

1) Opera seria: serious subject matter, based on history, tragedy, and myth
-mostly solo singing, fewer ensemble singing/choruses
-features sopranos, mezzo-sopranos, castrati (tenors and
basses had minor roles)
-virtuosity
2) Opera buffa: comic opera, based on everyday characters, often pokes fun
at higher society
-more ensemble scenes
-basses used more often; often excluded castrati
-simpler melodies, less virtuosic

Mozart Don Giovanni (1787); librettist: Lorenzo Da Ponte

Cast
Don Giovanni (Don Juan)
baritone
Commendatore
bass
Donna Anna, Commendatores daughter
soprano
Don Ottavio, Annas fianc
tenor
Donna Elvira, Don Giovannis ex-lover
soprano
Leporello, Giovannis servant
bass
Masetto, a peasant, betrothed to Zerlina
bass
Zerlina, a peasant girl
soprano
Setting: A Spanish town (traditionally Seville), in the 16th century
I, end of i: Recitative: Ottavio and Anna
Duet: Ottavio and Anna
Plot point: Ottavio and Anna swear revenge for the death of
Commendtore
Notice: 1) type of recitative used
2) ensemble instead of solo singing

I, ii: Trio: Elvira, Don Giovanni, Leporello

Recitative: Elvira, Don Giovanni, Leporello
Aria (catalogue song): Leporello
Plot point: Elvira swears revenge on the knave who abandoned her. Don
Giovanni puts the moves on her, before realizing her identity. Leporello
is left to smooth things out.
Notice:1) Elviras melodic style
2) type of recitative used what does that tell us about the
seriousness of Elviras complaint vs. that of Ottavio and Anna?
3) patterning of numbers within a scene how does this compare
with opera seria?
4) In Leporellos catalogue aria, look for word painting, comic
pattering, bi-partite form
I, iii: Duet: Don Giovanni, Zerlina
Plot point: Don Giovanni interrupts a peasant celebration to seduce
Zerlina. Masetto objects, but realizes that he must comply with an
aristocrat. Don Giovanni gets Zerlina alone.
Notice:
1) Character portrayal through music. How are the peasants
music different?
2) Don Giovannis seduction through music how does Zerlina
succumb to him musically?
3) AABA+coda form of the duet
4) The musical differences between Zerlina and Elvira in these
respective scenes, the two characters are introduced for the first
time. What impression (musical and otherwise) do these
characters make?