Lyric Opera 2019-2020 Issue 6 Don Giovanni

Lyric Opera of Chicago | 19 PRODUCTION SPONSORS LEAD SPONSOR The Negaunee Foundation COSPONSORS Howard L. Gottlieb and Barbara G. Greis Nancy and Sanfred Koltun Mazza Foundation SYNOPSIS Time 1920s | Place A small village in Spain Act one Scene 1: The street outside the Commendatore’s house Leporello stands guard for Don Giovanni’s latest conquest. Suddenly Giovanni rushes out pursued by Donna Anna, who calls for help. Her father challenges Giovanni and is murdered by him. Returning with her fiancé, Don Ottavio, Anna vows to have vengeance. Scene 2: A village square Giovanni, who had previously abandoned Donna Elvira, now flees, referring her to Leporello, who recites the catalogue of Giovanni’s conquests. Masetto and Zerlina, soon to be married, celebrate with their friends. Giovanni orders Leporello to escort Masetto and the peasants to his villa. Once Masetto is gone, Giovanni seduces Zerlina. Elvira warns the girl to avoid Giovanni. Anna and Ottavio request Giovanni’s help in punishing the Commendatore’s unknown assassin. Elvira returns, but Giovanni dismisses her as a madwoman. Once they’ve gone, Anna suddenly realizes that this was, in fact, her father’s murderer. Scene 3: The garden of Don Giovanni’s villa: Giovanni orders Leporello to prepare a feast for that evening. Zerlina persuades Masetto to forgive her. Giovanni resumes his pursuit of Zerlina and, upon discovering Masetto, persuades the couple to enter the villa with him. Anna, Elvira, and Ottavio arrive, masked and intent on vengeance. Leporello invites them – on Giovanni’s behalf – to attend the party. Scene 4: The ballroom of Don Giovanni’s villa Giovanni tells Leporello to distract Masetto, then leads Zerlina to another room. Suddenly her screams alarm the party guests. Giovanni blames Leporello for attacking Zerlina. Anna, Elvira, and Ottavio unmask and denounce Giovanni. Act two Scene 1: The street below Donna Elvira’s hotel Leporello wants to quit working for Giovanni, but is induced to stay. Giovanni exchanges clothes with Leporello in order to seduce Elvira’s maid unrecognized. Elvira appears at a window of her hotel room, lamenting Giovanni’s cruelty. He asks her to come to him, but it’s with the disguised Leporello that she leaves. Giovanni then serenades the maid. When Masetto arrives with some armed villagers, Giovanni sends the men off and detains Masetto, whom he beats viciously. Masetto’s cries bring Zerlina, who comforts him. Scene 2: A church Leporello eludes Elvira but is discovered by Anna, Ottavio, Masetto, and Zerlina. Leporello reveals his true identity, begs for mercy, and escapes. Ottavio asks his companions to comfort Anna until he can return as the messenger of her vengeance. Elvira admits that although Giovanni has betrayed her, she still pities him. Scene 3: A cemetery Giovanni tells Leporello about his latest adventures. The two hear the Commendatore’s voice emanating from a statue. Giovanni orders Leporello to invite the statue to dinner. Scene 4: Donna Anna’s house Anna begs Ottavio to wait to marry her until her grief for her father has subsided. When he berates her for treating him cruelly, she assures him of her love. Scene 5: Don Giovanni’s dining room Giovanni is enjoying food and wine when Elvira bursts in, imploring him to change his ways, but he ignores her pleading. The statue arrives and orders him to repent. Giovanni refuses and is dragged to hell. Leporello tells Anna, Ottavio, Elvira, Zerlina, and Masetto what has happened, and all proclaim the end of an evildoer. LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO Anthony Freud General Director, President & CEO Sir Andrew Davis Music Director Enrique Mazzola Music Director Designate Renée Fleming Creative Consultant Edited for the Neue Mozart-Ausgabe by Wolfgang Plath and Wolfgang Rehm. Used by arrangement with European American Music Distributors Company, U.S. and Canadian agent for Baerenreiter- Verlag, publisher and copyright owner. Scenery constructed by Bay Productions, Cardiff, Wales, U.K. Costumes provided by Steppenwolf Theatre Costume Shop, San Francisco Opera Costume Shop, Eric Winterling, Inc., Seams Unlimited, Laura Whitlock, Beth Uber, Paul Chang, Jersey McDermott, Dale Wibben, Marsha Kuligowski, Emma McKee, Dana Burkart, Amy Van Every, and the Lyric Opera Costume Shop. Selected props by Chicago Scenic Studios. Projected English titles ©2014 by Lyric Opera of Chicago. Lyric Opera of Chicago gratefully acknowledges the support of the Regenstein Foundation Mozart Endowed Chair in Memory of Ruth Regenstein. Lyric Opera of Chicago wishes to thank its Official Airline, American Airlines. APPROXIMATE TIMINGS Act One 1 hour, 30 minutes Intermission 30 minutes Acts Two & Three 1 hour, 20 minutes Total 3 hours, 20 minutes