Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. What's the full name of this opera?
2. Don Giovanni premiered to great acclaim on October 29, 1787 at the Nostitz theatre in what city?
3. Lorenzo da Ponte was Mozart's librettist, and almost as much of a genius as was Mozart. He was an Italian Jewish convert turned renegade priest who had been banished from Venice for his countless affairs. He was also a chronic gambler, a musician, a writer and at the time when he was writing Don Giovanni, official poet and librettist to the court in Vienna. Where did this remarkable man die?
4. It is rumoured that a close friend of da Ponte's who was in Prague at the same time contributed a lot of hands-on experience and advice. Who was this expert?
5. The story of Don Giovanni (or Don Juan) was not a fresh one. It circulated in the middle ages, and was first published as a morality play in Spain in the 17th century. In 1787 alone, Mozart's was the fourth operatic incarnation of the story to appear. A playwrite of genius had also produced a comedy, Dom Juan ou le festin de pierre, in 1665. Who was this?
6. Now for the story. At the beginning of Act I, Leporello waits for his master, Don Giovanni, who is busy trying to rape Donna Anna. The Don is discovered and then has to fight a duel with the Commendatore, whom he kills. Who is the Commendatore?
7. There's more trouble afoot as Don Giovanni runs into one of his castoff lovers, Donna Elvira, who is pursuing him looking for revenge. Leporello has to sing the catalogue aria, a list of the Don's conquests, to try to discourage her. The Don has had a lot of affairs - how many in Spain alone?
8. After temporarily ridding themselves of Donna Elvira, Don Giovanni and Leporello run into a peasant wedding party. Our anti-hero is immediately taken with the bride, Zerlina. Who is her fiance?
9. After his attempted seduction of Zerlina is stymied by Donna Elvira, things get worse for Don Giovanni. He meets Donna Anna (who doesn't recognize him) and her wimpy suitor, Don Ottavio. Donna Elvira tries to expose him to them and the Don covers by telling them she's...
10. Don Giovanni unwisely decides to throw a party for Zerlina and Masetto. His motives are, of course, all bad. He sings an aria that seems to epitomize his personal life philosophy. What is it?
11. Things don't get less complicated in Act II. Don Giovanni pursuades Leporello to change identities with him in order to head off Donna Elvira. The Don is interested in romancing her pretty maid. To do this he serenades her with the aria 'Deh, vieni alla finestra'. It has a somewhat unusual instrumental accompaniment. What?
12. Eventually Don Giovanni and Leporello end up at the sepulchre of the Commendatore. In a moment of bravado, the Don orders his servant to approach the statue and do what?
13. It's dinner time at the Don's. He has a wonderful spread layed on, Leporello is serving and a wind band plays popular tunes. He likes the first two, but upon hearing the third he remarks that he 'knows that one a little too well'. What is being played?
14. His dinner is spoiled by the entrance of two guests, first Donna Elvira and then, inevitably, the statue of the Commendatore. The statue says that as he's accepted the Don's invitation, the Don must come to dinner with him. Many performances have Leporello do something quite innovative at this point. What?
15. The statue drags Don Giovanni down to Hell despite his bravery (or because of it). The rest of the cast then assembles on stage for the happy end. Zerlina and Masetto plan a happy life together, Donna Elvira is off to a convent, and Leporello will look for a better master. Are Donna Anna and Don Ottavio off to the altar?
Source: Author
dobrov
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor
agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
