RBO crest

The Royal Opera

Music Director

Jakub Hrůša

Director of Opera

Oliver Mears

Don Giovanni

OPERA BUFFA IN TWO ACTS

Cast sheet

The 495th performance by The Royal Opera at the Royal Opera House.

Please note that casting is subject to change up until the start of the performance. Please continue to check the website for the most up-to-date information.

A co-production with Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona, The Israeli Opera and Houston Grand Opera

Approximate timings

The performance lasts about 3 hours and 30 minutes, including one interval.

Act I

95 minutes

Interval

30 minutes

Act II

85 minutes

Credits

Music

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Libretto

Lorenzo da Ponte

Conductor

Stefano Montanari

Director

Kasper Holten

Revival Director

Greg Eldridge

Set Designer

Es Devlin

Costume Designer

Anja Vang Kragh

Lighting Designer

Bruno Poet

Video Designer

Luke Halls

Choreographer

Signe Fabricius

Revival Choreographer

Anna-Marie Sullivan

Fight Director

Mark Ruddick

The edition of Don Giovanni used in these performances is published by Bärenreiter-Verlag Kassel and edited by Wolfgang Plath and Wolfgang Rehm. Performed by arrangement with Faber Music LTD.

Cast

Don Giovanni

Gordon Bintner

Leporello

Roberto Tagliavini

Donna Anna

Lydia Katarina

Donna Elvira

Aigul Akhmetshina

Don Ottavio

Bogdan Volkov

Zerlina

Chelsea Zurflüh

replaces Sarah Brady

Masetto

Dingle Yandell

The Commendatore

Andreas Bauer Kanabas

Donna Elvira's Maid

Colenso Le Berre

Actors

Sian Ejiwunmi-Le Berre, Kelly Homewood, Hope Lavelle, Amelia Grace Pin, Jennifer Robinson, Hazel Boland Ross, Amelia Stanimeros

Chorus and Orchestra

Chorus

Royal Opera Chorus

Chorus Director

William Spaulding

Orchestra

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

Concert Master

Magnus Johnston

Production credits

Music preparation

Patrick Milne, Richard Hetherington, Nicholas Ansdell-Evans

Assistant Director

Madeleine Allegra Brooks

Language Coach

Barbara Diana

Don Giovanni, a Spanish nobleman, is renowned throughout Europe as a seducer of women...

ACT I


Don Giovanni, a Spanish nobleman, is renowned throughout Europe as a seducer of women; Leporello, his servant, reluctantly aids him by keeping watch. Giovanni attempts to leave the house of Donna Anna, his most recent conquest, but gets stopped by Anna’s father the Commendatore. Giovanni kills him. Anna tells her fiancé, Don Ottavio, that she was raped by an unknown man and they vow revenge on the murderer.

Leporello’s attempts to persuade his master to reform are interrupted by Donna Elvira, a former mistress of Giovanni’s, who is looking for him. Giovanni leaves it to Leporello to explain the extent of his master’s womanizing.

Masetto and his bride Zerlina are to be married at a peasant wedding, but Giovanni decides to seduce Zerlina. Elvira interrupts and foils Giovanni’s attempt. Ottavio and Anna appeal to Giovanni for help in their pursuit of the murderer of Anna’s father. Elvira again interrupts and warns Ottavio and Anna about Giovanni’s true nature; Anna tells Ottavio that Giovanni is the man who murdered her father.

Leporello discusses with Giovanni the plans for the masquerade ball his master is hosting that evening. Zerlina assures Masetto that Giovanni has not touched her. Elvira joins forces with Ottavio and Anna; they are going to the ball and intend to exact vengeance on Giovanni. While everyone is dancing at the ball Giovanni attempts to ensnare Zerlina, but she rallies all behind her to try to entrap Giovanni. All accuse him, but he and Leporello elude them once more.

INTERVAL

ACT II


Hoping for success with Elvira’s maid, Giovanni exchanges clothes with Leporello, who is instructed to lure Elvira away. Giovanni is interrupted by Masetto, who is intent on killing him, but his disguise is successful and he beats Masetto up and escapes.

Returning with Elvira, Leporello is mistaken for Giovanni by Anna, Ottavio, Zerlina and Masetto. Removing his disguise, Leporello convinces them that he is not the guilty one. Ottavio swears vengeance on Giovanni whom, in spite of everything, Elvira continues to love.

Giovanni hears the voice of the Commendatore, whom he killed, warning Giovanni of impending retribution. Giovanni orders Leporello to invite the ghost to supper. The ghost of the Commendatore accepts Don Giovanni’s invitation and arrives to send him to hell.

Guidance

Suitable for ages 8+

This production contains themes of violence and sexual harassment. There are strobe effects throughout.

Language

Sung in Italian with English surtitles, which are displayed on screens above the stage and around the auditorium.

Further information