Bangkok--Oct 4--Thaiticketmaster
Lothario, Cassanova, Don Juan (or, in Italian, Don Giovanni), and, more recently, ladies' man, smooth operator, playboy, player, and some less genteel expressions — all are terms used to describe a successful seducer. These days, even in the era of feminism, they often are used with a wink: a bit of admiration or just jealousy on the part of other men and anything from mild disapprobation to, well, sheer prurience on the part of women. But that was not the case in earlier times, when, according to Mary Bennet (at least, the BBC's version of her), "Loss of virtue in a female is irretrievable ... for a woman's reputation is no less brittle than it is beautiful...." In theory, at least, Christian Virtues were taken a little more to heart then than now. This is made evident in Mozart's opera, in which the ultimate player gets a serious comeuppance, or perhaps we should say is seriously set down.
Conductor : Somtow Sucharitkul
SYNOPSIS :
- Don Giovanni
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Lorenzo da Ponte
Setting : Seville, 1600 s.
Act One
Leporello is waiting in front of the Commendatore's house for his master Don Giovanni, a dissolute nobleman, who is inside trying to seduce the Commendatore's daughter, Donna Anna. Leporello complains about his duties as servant to Don Giovanni when, suddenly, Don Giovanni (wearing a mask to avoid being identified) rushes out. Donna Anna pursues him, crying for help. Her cries attract the attention of her father, who challenges the masked man to a duel. Don Giovanni reluctantly accepts and kills the Commendatore, then escapes with Leporello. Donna Anna enters with her fianc?, Don Ottavio to find her father dead. She makes Don Ottavio swear revenge.
Outside a tavern the next morning, Don Giovanni and Leporello overhear a lady moaning about having been forsaken. Seeing a new opportunity, Giovanni approaches, planning to seduce her. But he recognizes her as Donna Elvira, one of his jilted mistresses who is pursuing him to take her revenge. Once again, Giovanni escapes, leaving Leporello to distract Elvira by explaining that she is just one of many of his master's conquests.
Villagers arrive, celebrating the impending wedding of their friends Zerlina and Masetto. Taking a fancy to the bride, Don Giovanni invites the whole wedding party to his house to celebrate. His attentions to Zerlina anger Masetto, but Don Giovanni orders Leporello to amuse Masetto and the revelers so that he may be alone with Zerlina. When he is alone with Zerlina, he is about to win her over with flattery when Donna Elvira arrives and protectively whisks the girl away.
Donna Anna and Don Ottavio arrive and — still not realizing that Don Giovanni is the one who attacked her and murdered the Commendatore — ask him to help them find the culprit. Don Giovanni hypocritically offers his services. Donna Elvira returns and warns the two to beware of him. Her denunciations arouse their suspicions, but he assures them that Elvira is mad and leads her off. However, Donna Anna recognizes Don Giovanni's voice as that of her seducer and her father's murderer. After Giovanni departs, she demands that Don Ottavio revenge his death.
At Don Giovanni's house, the wedding party for Zerlina and Masetto has begun. Giovanni exuberantly downs champagne as he dresses for the feast he has planned. Outside the palace, Masetto chastises Zerlina for fraternizing with Giovanni. Zerlina begs Masetto to forgive her and is able to placate him.
When Don Giovanni appears, Masetto hides, wanting to test Zerlina's fidelity. As the Don corners Zerlina, Masetto emerges. Meanwhile, Donna Anna, Donna Elvira and Don Ottavio appear wearing masks and are invited to the feast by Leporello. Don Giovanni quickly composes himself and invites both to join the party. The three enter the palace together. Donna Anna, Don Ottavio, and Donna Elvira brace themselves and enter.
Don Giovanni welcomes his guests and signals for the dancing to begin. Leporello entices Masetto into the dance while Giovanni draws Zerlina into a side room to renew his advances. Zerlina cries out for help. When others arrive, Giovanni tries to blame Leporello, but no one believes him. Donna Elvira, Donna Anna, and Don Ottavio unmask and confront Giovanni, who barely escapes Ottavio's drawn sword.
Act Two
Leporello threatens to leave Don Giovanni's service, but the Don wins him over with money. He has decided to seduce Donna Elvira's chambermaid. He exchanges clothes with Leporello. When Donna Elvira appears on the balcony, Giovanni pulls a Cyrano, serenading her while Leporello lipsyncs. Donna Elvira plays the perfect Roxane and throws herself into the arms of Leporello, whom she believes is Don Giovanni. Giovanni then causes a commotion to drive Leporello and Donna Elvira away. Now he can finally serenade the maid.
Masetto arrives with a horde of armed villagers out to kill Don Giovanni. The Don, still disguised as Leporello, sends them in the wrong direction, while holding Masetto back. After the villagers leave, Don Giovanni and gives Masetto a beating. Zerlina arrives to find her beaten bridegroom and tenderly comforts him.
As Leporello tries to escape from the still-deceived Donna Elvira, they are surprised by Anna, Ottavio, Zerlina and Masetto, who, also still mistaking servant for master, demand his death. When Donna Elvira intervenes and pleads for mercy for her supposed lover, Leporello reveals his true identity and is able to escape. When Anna departs, Ottavio reaffirms his love for and his intention to avenge her. Elvira, frustrated at her second betrayal by the Don, voices her rage.
Don Giovanni and Leporello meet up again in the cemetery. As the Don tells Leporello of his new adventures, they hear a voice, warning Don Giovanni against commiting any more crimes. The voice comes from a statue, which Don Giovanni recognizes as the statue of the slain Commendatore. He orders Leporello to invite the statue to supper. To Leporello's horror, the statue accepts the invitation.
In Donna Anna's home, where she is still in mourning, Anna puts off Ottavio's offer of marriage until her father is avenged. Ottavio reassures Donna Anna that her father's death will soon be avenged, and they will be free to marry.
As Leporetto serves Don Giovanni's supper, Donna Elvira enters and tries one last time to convince him to reform. He scornfully rejects her entreaties. On leaving, she encounters the statue of the Commendatore as it arrives. It warns Don Giovanni again to show repentance, but Don Giovanni defiantly refuses. As he seizes the statue's hand, he appears to be struck by lightening. Flames engulf his house, and he sinks into the ground racked by the torments of hell.
Donna Anna, Don Ottavio, Donna Elvira, Masetto, and Zerlina arrive and find that Don Giovanni has disappeared. Leporello reports his master's bizarre fate. Before they go their separate ways, they unite in their moral condemnation of Don Giovanni.
TICKET INFORMATION
Venue Thai Cultural Center
Location Ratchadapisek Rd., Bangkok
Show Date Total 2 rounds
Tuesday 16th November 2004
Wednesday 17th November 2004
Show Start To be confirm.
Public Sale on Thaiticketmaster.com website From Saturday 2nd
October 2004 to Wednesday 17th November 2004
at Thaiticketmaster.com outlets From Saturday 2nd
October 2004 to Wednesday 17th November 2004
Prices 2,500 Baht
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