Stanislavsky Theatre
| 15 February |
| 19:00 |
| 2026 | Sunday |
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Russian Opera Stars at the Stanislavski Theatre
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart "Don Giovanni" Opera in 2 acts Opera in 2 acts |
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Credits |
Lorenzo da Ponte, Author libretto
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Performed in Italian Premiere of this production: 10 Jun 2014 The performance has 1 intermission Running time: 3 hours 30 minutes
At the Stanislavsky Theatre, located in XIX century historical building just 750 metres (9-minute walk) from the Bolshoi, audiences will witness this masterpiece brought to life by a cast whose members have performed on the stages of the most prestigious Russian theatres and trained at the same renowned academies that shaped generations of Russia’s leading opera and ballet artists. Their refined technique and expressive artistry ensure a performance that combines historical authenticity with contemporary emotional power, offering a truly unforgettable evening at one of Moscow’s foremost cultural venues. Opera at the Stanislavsky Theatre is the great and affordable alternative to the Bolshoi. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart defined the genre of his Don Giovanni as dramma giocoso – a “comic drama.” Taken literally, this is an oxymoron, and indeed the opera contains more mysteries and contradictions than perhaps any other. Within it, play and reality, masks and faces, sensuality and cold moral instruction are intertwined so intricately that it is impossible to say where one ends and the other begins.
Mozart and his librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte created Don Giovanni for Prague, where it premiered in 1787 to rapturous acclaim. The Prague audience greeted Mozart’s new work with unrestrained enthusiasm. The subsequent Vienna production, however, did not evoke the same fervor. Emperor Joseph II remarked that Don Giovanni was “too difficult” for his Viennese. He could hardly have imagined that centuries later the opera would remain an inexhaustible enigma. Today, more than two hundred and fifty years after its first performance, Mozart’s Don Giovanni still stands as one of opera’s greatest unsolved mysteries. Synopsis
Act I
Leporello, the faithful servant of all of Don Giovanni’s follies, is a witness for a night scandal in the house of the Commendatore. Donna Anna alerts the whole household and tries to stop an intruder who would like to leave the house unseen. This intruder is Don Giovanni. The Commendatore hears the racket and comes to protect his daughter. Don Giovanni takes up the challenge. As a result the Commendatore is killed. Don Giovanni tries to run away.
Donna Anna and her bridegroom Don Ottavio cannot accept the sudden and horrible death of the Commendatore. Donna Anna wants to take revenge on the unknown murderer.
As Don Giovanni abandoned her, Donna Elvira is tortured with love and her craving for revenge. She finally finds him in the house of the Commendatore, but Donna Elvira’s grief only arouses indifference in Don Giovanni. He manages to escape. It is Leporello who answers in his stead.
Zerlina celebrates her engagement with Masetto. Don Giovanni cunningly tries to get rid of the fiance in order to stay alone with the young girl. He charms her and leaves her with all senses alert. Donna Elvira warns Zerlina that she should not trust Don Giovanni. Donna Anna and Don Ottavio hope that Don Giovanni will give them his support in the difficult moments they are living since the Commendatore has died. Don Giovanni gives them his faith. But Donna Elvira persuades Donna Anna not to believe in Don Giovanni’s sincerity. When Donna Anna remains alone with Don Ottavio, she tells him how the fatal night proceeded and confesses that the murderer of her father is Don Giovanni himself.
Everybody is invited to the party Don Giovanni organizes. Zerlina and Masetto come to this party. Donna Anna, Don Ottavio and Donna Elvira join them to denounce Don Giovanni as the murderer of the Commendatore guilty of all their misfortunes. But Don Giovanni manages to reverse the situation and to involve everybody in the partnership. But finally, all persons go out of the play accusing Don Giovanni.
Act II
Leporello does not want to share the follies and dangers of Don Giovanni’s life anymore, but the latter makes him take part in the realization of his new plans. According to one of these ideas, Donna Elvira, abandoned and unhappy, falls into the arms of Leporello whom she mistakes for Don Giovanni. Don Giovanni meets Masetto and his friends who want to sort out the man who has so much power over them. But Don Giovanni, whom they are forced to mistake for Leporello, manages to trick them and teaches Masetto a good lesson. Donna Elvira who continues to mistake Leporello for Don Giovanni meets Donna Anna and Don Ottavio by chance. Zerlina and Masetto join them. Mistaking Leporello for Don Giovanni, they all want to execute him on the spot. Leporello manages to escape. Everybody feels that they cannot get rid of the destructive power of Don Giovanni over their fates.
Don Giovanni hears the voice of the dead Commendatore accusing him in horrible sins. Don Giovanni in his answer provokes the Commendatore and dares invite him to dinner. Don Ottavio tries to persuade Donna Anna that they will soon find the way to punish the criminal, and that she should agree to marry him as soon as possible.
Don Giovanni organizes a bigger party, to which everybody can come, even the late Commendatore. Joy is in full swing when Don Giovanni sees the invited Commendatore come in. The latter asks the criminal to repent himself. Don Giovanni does not at all admit his fault and challenges all. But he is defeated and crushed. The avengers triumph...
Dmitri Tcherniakov
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Main Stage
Teatralnaya ploschad, 1 (Theatre Square, 1), Moscow, Russia
New Stage
Bol'shaya Dmitrovka Street, 4/2, Moscow, Russia
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