Don Giovanni Opera

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1) Is there anything about the opening scenes that are depicted while the Overture is playing that contribute to the idea of this opera as an anti-Enlightenment representation of the dangers of individual liberty taken too far? Or maybe of the dangers of upending existing social and/or political structures?

Mozart plunges into a dark atmosphere at the beginning of the overture with awesome D minor chords anxious syncopations and sinister scale. There is a hair-raising effect when this slow, ominous music returns at the end of the opera. It continues with a fast sonata form movement in D major. The opening is related to the idea anti Englimentthe because it contains the political, social, and philosophical messages. Don Giovanni stands up …show more content…
The end of The Marriage of Figaro is about how The Count begs for forgiveness to his wife because he was trying to cheat with Susanna.

3) The opening scene is both very powerful and very violent. In this opening scene, what are some similarities between the depictions of Leporello (servant) and Don Giovanni (aristocrat) in this opera and the depictions of Figaro (servant) and the Count (master) in The Marriage of Figaro? Some differences?

Don Giovanni is a nobleman, and a womanizer. However Leporello is the Don Giovanni's servant, a partner who is both entertained and troubled by his boss's actions.The Count Almaviva is married to Rosina however he continues being a womanizer and is pursuing Susanna and has become jealous and angry with Figaro for being betrothed to her. However Figaro is the count’s valet, self-educated, betrothed to Susanna. The similarities between them are love has made these two men become jealous and also very protective over their …show more content…
(This was the director’s decision, not something suggested by Mozart).
I believe that the director’s decision was made to create confusion to the audience. From the opera, I can assume that Leporello can represent the conscience of Don Giovanni because leporello always make comments about his boss’s actions.
5) Watch the final scene of the opera. Summarize what happens from about 19:00 to 35:00. How does the ending fit in with the idea of Don Giovanni as an anti-Enlightenment opera?

Don Giovanni is surprise by the stone statue that appears during his dinner. The statues asked him if he has done any bad things and asked no. Then the stone statue pulls his hand and leads him to underworld. It fits with the idea of anti Enlightenment because Mozart intended to spread a message to society. His message was that the Enlightenment’s ideas are taking people into hell instead of heaven.

6) Talk about the production you’ve watched. What do you think of the fact that it is set in New York City in the 1980s? What do you think of the costuming and casting choices? Do you enjoy the choices? Do you find anything troubling about the
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