Don Giovanni - an opera in two acts

Dramatis personae

Don Giovanni

The "hero" of the opera. Though he behaves like a villain and comes to a thoroughly deserved sticky end, Don Giovanni is still presented in such a way that you can't help but feel a certain admiration for him. A lot of this is indubitably due to the fact that he gets to sing some absolutely beautiful music.

Leporello

Don Giovanni's long-suffering servant. It's always Leporello that seems to take the rap when Don Giovanni's schemes go awry. Leporello is a more obviously humorous character, and gets to make a number of witty asides. He also sings an impressive aria in which he tells Donna Elvira all about the book he keeps listing all of Don Giovanni's conquests.

Donna Elvira

A jilted victim of Don Giovanni's charm, Donna Elvira appears partway through the first act, wailing that she has been abandoned by her lover. Though also told all about his philandering ways by Leporello, Donna Elvira never quite seems convinced that Don Giovanni might not be redeemable. Don Giovanni exploits this fact mercilessly.

Others

I haven't finished this yet.

The best bits

• Very early on, the Commendatore is killed by Don Giovanni after he has unsuccessfully attempted to seduce (rape) the Commendatore's daughter. As the Commendatore dies, the music falls into a reverential hush. The voices of the three men on stage (Don Giovanni, Leporello and the Commendatore) combine into an exquisite trio, expressing amazing sadness and shock at the death which has occurred.
• The finale of the opera is absolutely amazing. Don Giovanni finally gets his come-uppance, when a stone statue of the Commedatore comes to life and drags Don Giovanni off to Hell. Actually, the statue first gives Don Giovanni a chance to repent and mend his ways, but characteristically he refuses. The drama of the music here is quite outstanding. The menace of the statue and the accompanying threat of Hell is brilliantly conveyed. Incidentally, there are definite similarities between the style of this and the introduction to the 38th symphony.

  (This final scene is featured in the film Amadeus, and was my first exposure to Don Giovanni.)