Don Giovanni

The figure of the fascinating yet ruthless Don Juan—or Don Giovanni—is one of the defining myths of the modern age. Among the numerous artistic adaptations, Mozart's "dramma giocoso" stands out in particular. During a nighttime rendezvous with Donna Anna, the womanizer Don Giovanni is surprised by her father, the Commendatore.

In the ensuing scuffle, the outcome is fatal: Giovanni kills the Commendatore. Donna Anna and her fiancé, Don Ottavio, swear revenge. Donna Elvira, who despite everything repeatedly succumbs to Giovanni's seductive charms, is also beside herself—especially when his servant Leporello reveals to her the true extent of his master's countless conquests. When Giovanni finally plots to seduce the young Zerlina on her wedding day, Elvira intervenes. Together with Donna Anna and Don Ottavio, she joins forces to stop the unscrupulous seducer. But even in the face of death, Don Giovanni is unwilling to show remorse.

With "Don Giovanni," Mozart and his brilliant librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte created a unique fusion of serious and comic opera. They elevated the originally farcical story with psychological depth and musical sophistication, and in Elvira and Anna, they created two strong female characters who stand as worthy adversaries to the title character.

• Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
  
• Libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte
  

Cast

• Musical Direction: Finnegan Downie Dear
  
• Stage Direction: Claus Guth
  
• Stage Reconstruction, Stage Direction: Caroline Staunton
  
• Stage Direction: Katharina Lang
  
• Set and Costume Design: Christian Schmidt
  
• Lighting: Olaf Winter
  
• Choreography: Ramses Sigl
  
• Chorus Master: Dani Juris
  
• Don Giovanni: Gyula Orendt
  
• Donna Anna: Evelin Novak
  
• Don Ottavio: Siyabonga Maqungo
  
• Commander: Taras Shtonda
  
• Donna Elvira: Clara Nadeshdin
  
• Leporello: Friedrich Hamel
  
• Masetto: Irakli Pkhaladze
  
• Zerlina: Jingjing Xu
  
• Berlin State Opera Chorus, Berlin State Opera Orchestra
  

GOOD TO KNOW:

• Duration: approx. 3 hours 15 minutes including an intermission after Act 1
  
• Language: In Italian with German and English subtitles Subtitles
  
• Age recommendation: 14 years and up