ACT I
The opera opens in a typical Commedia dell’Arte scenario: A servant, Leporello, waits outside a house, the Commendatore’s villa, for his master, Don Giovanni. Suddenly, Giovanni rushes out of the house pursued by Donna Anna. The uproar wakes up the Commendatore, who appears with his servants.
The old man is determined to defend the honour of his daughter, Donna Anna. In spite of Giovanni’s initial refusal of the old man’s challenge, a fight ensues. The Commendatore is fatally wounded. Donna Anna mourns her father, while her fiancé Don Ottavio, summoned unto the scene for help, pledges to avenge him.
Giovanni and Leporello reappear when the coast is clear. Suddenly, Giovanni catches the scent of a woman in the air. She is none other than Donna Elvira, seeking the man who won her heart and then forsook her in Burgos. Giovanni, the culprit, tries to console her before realizing her identity. He makes a quick get away, leaving Leporello the difficult task of explaining everything to her. She soon learns from him that Giovanni’s conquests are numerous in every country and that she was neither his first nor last lover.
Leporello joins his master. They come across a group of peasants celebrating the wedding of Zerlina and Masetto. Giovanni cannot resist another potential conquest: he sends the whole wedding party to be entertained in his home. While Leporello looks after them Giovanni propositions Zerlina.
Donna Elvira reappears and prevents Giovanni from leaving with Zerlina, who had agreed to follow him. Donna Anna and Don Ottavio appear and ask Giovanni for his assistance. Donna Elvira soon returns to warn them of Giovanni’s character. Realizing that he cannot fully discredit her or silence her, Giovanni makes another quick and polite exit. Suddenly, Donna Anna realizes who he is. She tells Don Ottavio the full story of the events that led to the death of the Commendatore. Once again, she demands that he avenge her father’s death.
Giovanni meets up with his servants again and starts to discuss a party he wants Leporello to organize for him. Zerlina begs jealous Masetto’s forgiveness, then Giovanni appears and tries to lead Zerlina away. Eventually, all three leave together for the party. Soon Donna Elvira, Donna Anna and Don Ottavio appear at Giovanni’s wearing masks and are asked to join the party.
Giovanni and Zerlina flirt with each other at the ball, and Masetto is furious. Leporello, acting on his master’s orders, distracts Masetto while everybody dances a minuet, a contredanse and a German dance. Giovanni leads Zerlina to another room. Suddenly, we hear her scream and everyone rushes to rescue her. The door opens and Giovanni appears dragging Leporello and denouncing him as the culprit. Donna Anna, Don Ottavio and Donna Elvira drop their masks. They do not believe him and threaten vengeance. Giovanni manages to escape ingeniously.
INTERMISSION
ACT II
Leporello claims to be fed up and about to leave his master forever. He suggests his master renounce the pursuit of women. Giovanni rejects his pleas as ridiculous and soon drags him out on a new chase.
Giovanni is now interested in Elvira’s maid. To woo her, he decides to exchange clothes with his servant. Elvira, looking down at Leporello from a balcony succumbs to his singing to her. She actually hears Giovanni’s voice while she sees Leporello, in Giovanni’s clothing, miming the words. She comes down to join Leporello and is soon led away by him leaving the coast clear.
Giovanni serenades the maid with a mandolin. Masetto appears, armed and in the company of villagers. Giovanni, disguised as Leporello, offers to help them find Don Giovani. After sending the peasants off on the wrong track, Giovanni tricks Masetto into giving him all his weapons. After giving Masetto a serious beating, Giovanni makes yet another quick exit. Zerlina appears and comforts her lover by promising him…the ultimate medication.
Meanwhile, Leporello tries to extricate himself from Donna Elvira. At the very moment he thinks he can finally escape, Donna Anna and Don Ottavio appear followed by Zerlina and Masetto; they all confront him. They are, of course, very surprised to see Donna Elvira trying to defend him. Leporello throws off his disguise and reveals his true identity; naturally, this does not save him. Then a higher motive calls everyone away: they must find Giovanni and denounce him to the local authorities.
Leporello joins his master at night. While Giovanni teases Leporello about the good time he just spent with another conquest, they both notice a statue of the Commendatore. Upon his master’s request, Leporello reads the inscription at the base of the statue: Here, I await Heaven’s vengeance upon a vile assassin.” Suddenly, a voice is heard warning Giovanni of his impending doom. Leporello is terrified but Giovanni thinks that someone is playing a practical joke at their expense. Giovanni invites the statue to a banquet in his own villa and the stately stone character accepts his invitation.
Don Ottavio enters with Donna Anna. He offers to marry her the next day but she begs him to wait as they are mourning her father’s death.
Don Giovanni prepares for the banquet he promised the statue. Musicians play favourite tunes (one of which is an aria from The Marriage of Figaro). Donna Elvira appears and pleads with Giovanni to repent and marry her. He dismisses her and she departs. She is heard screaming and Giovanni sends Leporello to find out what frightened her.
Leporello soon returns to warn his master of the approach of the statue. Giovanni orders his servant to invite the statue in. Leporello hides under the table and Giovanni has to open the door himself. The unusual guest declines Giovanni’s meal but offers his hand, inviting the Don to a dinner of his own. Giovanni accepts the invitation taking the statue’s hand. Suddenly, Giovanni drops to his knees terrified and the statue demands repentance. Giovanni repeatedly refuses to acknowledge any wrongdoing.
