W. A. Mozart Don Giovanni [Paperback]

A study of Mozart's Don Giovanni, one of the best known and most often performed opears of the last 200 years.The major portion of this study is concerned with the subject matter of the opera before it reached the librettist da Ponte and considers his handling of a plot constructed of original and inherited ideas. The musical personalities of Anna, Elvira and Giovanni are examined as well.The major portion of this study is concerned with the subject matter of the opera before it reached the librettist da Ponte and considers his handling of a plot constructed of original and inherited ideas. The musical personalities of Anna, Elvira and Giovanni are examined as well.This book is a study of Mozart's Don Giovanni, his second opera to a libretto by da Ponte. Although it is one of the handful of best-known and most often performed operas of the last two hundred years, Don Giovanni is seldom given in an authentic form and arguments persist as to its nature. Julian Rushton takes the view that, notwithstanding the tragic nature of certain scenes, it must be regarded as an opera buffa. He gives a brief summary of its history and life in the theatre, but the chief historical essay (by Edward Forman) concerns the subject-matter before it reached da Ponte. The book includes a very detailed synopsis which forms the basis of an extended commentary on the librettist's handling of a plot constructed of both original and inherited ideas. Bernard Williams contributes an essay on Don Giovanni as an idea in literature and philosophy since Mozart. The book concludes with an extensive bibliography, and a discography of complete recordings compiled by Malcolm Walker.1. Introduction; 2. Synopsis; 3. Don Juan before da Ponte Edward Forman; 4. The libretto; 5. Don Giovanni in the theatre; 6. Don Giovanni as an idea Bernard Williams; 7. The music; 8. The literature of Don Giovanni; Notes; Select bibliography; Bibliography for Chapter 3; Discography Malcom Walker.