Don Giovanni
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ACT 1
Don Giovanni's servant Leporello wants to be a master instead of always serving. Donna Anna tries to stop the fleeing Don Giovanni.
She calls for help. Don Giovanni assures her that she will never know who he is. Donna Anna's father, the Commendatore, confronts Don Giovanni. In the ensuing battle, Don Giovanni fatally wounds the Commendatore. Donna Anna urges her fiancé Don Ottavio to come to her father's aid, but they only find the Commendatore's body. Donna Anna makes her fiancé promise to avenge her father.
Don Giovanni hopes for a new conquest. Instead, he and Leporello meet Donna Elvira, who accuses Giovanni of having deceived and seduced her with false promises. While Leporello distracts Donna Elvira, Don Giovanni is able to escape. Donna Elvira swears revenge. Masetto and Zerlina celebrate love, youth and their forthcoming wedding with their guests. Don Giovanni instructs Leporello to lead the company and especially the bridegroom into his house and entertain them; he and Zerlina will follow later. He meets Masetto's objection with a blatant threat. Masetto has to back down.
Don Giovanni invites Zerlina to his nearby castle, where he wants to marry her. Zerlina hesitates, but then agrees. The two are interrupted by Don Elvira, who warns Zerlina against the seducer and takes her with her. Don Ottavio and Donna Anna ask Don Giovanni for help in finding the Commendatore's unknown murderer. Donna Elvira appears again and warns of Giovanni's nefariousness. He suggests that Elvira is not in her right mind and follows her as she leaves. Donna Anna has recognized her father's murderer from Don Giovanni's behaviour. She once again asks Don Ottavio to avenge her.
Don Giovanni instructs Leporello to prepare a party at which he would like to make new conquests. Zerlina tries to convince Masetto that nothing has happened between her and Don Giovanni. Don Giovanni arrives and urges her to celebrate with him. Donna Anna, Donna Elvira and Don Ottavio approach in disguise. At Don Giovanni's behest, Leporello invites them to the party and Don Giovanni disappears with Zerlina. They are soon heard calling for help. Donna Anna, Donna Elvira, Don Ottavio and Masetto rush to protect her. Don Giovanni presents Leporello as the guilty party. The others don't believe him, but they can't catch Don Giovanni either.
ACT 2
Don Giovanni forces Leporello to swap clothes with him. He wants to seduce Donna Elvira's chambermaid in disguise, meanwhile Leporello is to keep Donna Elvira busy.
Leporello takes a liking to flattering Donna Elvira. Don Giovanni meets Masetto, who is armed and looking for him, but does not recognize him in Leporello's clothes. After Giovanni has taken Masetto's weapons, he beats him up. Zerlina finds the wounded man and tends to his wounds. Leporello tries to elude Donna Elvira. In the process, he meets Donna Anna and Don Ottavio, Zerlina and Masetto, who mistake him for Don Giovanni. They want to kill him.
Don Giovanni calmly recounts his last love adventures. The Commendatore's voice warns him not to disturb the peace of the dead. Don Giovanni makes fun of him and asks Leporello to invite the Commendatore to dinner. Leporello extends the invitation and the Commendatore agrees. Don Ottavio offers Donna Anna his comfort and his hand. She asks him to understand her situation and to be patient.
Don Giovanni prepares a splendid dinner and Donna Elvira appears. She urges Don Giovanni to change his life. Giovanni mocks her. Elvira moves away, then her cry of horror is heard. The Commendatore enters and issues Don Giovanni a counter-invitation. Don Giovanni agrees. He grasps the proffered hand and is shocked by its icy coldness. The Commendatore urges Don Giovanni to repent and change his life: It is the last opportunity. Don Giovanni refuses. Voices announce his punishment. Don Giovanni collapses and Donna Anna, Donna Elvira, Don Ottavio, Zerlina and Masetto arrive to bring Don Giovanni to his just punishment. They are joined only by Leporello, who tells them of Don Giovanni's fate. The company disperses, not without summing up: Their lives are always reflected in the deaths of the reprobates.
Program and cast
Don Giovanni: Davide Luciano; Étienne Dupuis*
Komtur: Ante Jerkunica
Donna Anna: Louise Alder
Don Ottavio: Bogdan Volkov; Edgardo Rocha*
Donna Elvira: Nicole Car; Emily D'angelo*
Leporello: Peter Kellner
Zerlina: Patricia Nolz; Isabel Signoret*
Masetto: Ilja Kazakov
Musical Direction: Pablo Heras-Casado; Philippe Jordan*
Direction: Barrie Kosky
Stage & Costumes: Katrin Lea Tag
Lighting: Franck Evin
*March 28, 2025 & April 1, 2025
Vienna State Opera
Public Transport
Subway lines: U1, U2, U4
Trams: 1, 2, D, J, 62, 65
Buses: 59A
Local Railway: Badner Bahn
Stops: Karlsplatz / Opera
Taxi stands are available nearby.
Parking
Parking is only € 6, - for eight hours!
The Wiener Staatsoper and the ÖPARK Kärntner Ring Garage on Mahlerstraße 8, under the “Ringstraßengalerien”, offer the patrons of the Vienna State Opera a new, reduced parking fee. You can park in the Kärntner Ring Garage for up to 8 hours and pay only a flat fee of € 6, -. Just validate your ticket at one of the discount machines inside the Wiener Staatsoper. The normal rate will be charged for parking time greater than 8 hours. The validation machines can be found at the following coat checks: Operngasse, Herbert von Karajan-Platz, and the right and left and balcony galleries.
Important: In order to get the discount, please draw a ticket and do not use your credit card when entering the garage!
After devaluing your ticket in the Wiener Staatsoper you can pay comfortably by credit card or cash at the vending machines.
The machines accept coins and bills up to 50.- Euro. Parking time longer than 8 hours will be charged at the normal rate.
History
The structure of the opera house was planned by the Viennese architect August Sicard von Sicardsburg, while the inside was designed by interior decorator Eduard van der Nüll. It was also impacted by other major artists such as Moritz von Schwind, who painted the frescoes in the foyer, and the famous "Zauberflöten" (“Magic Flute”) series of frescoes on the veranda. Neither of the architects survived to see the opening of ‘their’ opera house: the sensitive van der Nüll committed suicide, and his friend Sicardsburg died of a stroke soon afterwards.
On May 25, 1869, the opera house solemnly opened with Mozart's Don Giovanni in the presence of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth.
The popularity of the building grew under the artistic influence of the first directors: Franz von Dingelstedt, Johann Herbeck, Franz Jauner, and Wilhelm Jahn. The Vienna opera experienced its first high point under the direction of Gustav Mahler. He completely transformed the outdated performance system, increased the precision and timing of the performances, and also utilized the experience of other noteworthy artists, such as Alfred Roller, for the formation of new stage aesthetics.
The years 1938 to 1945 were a dark chapter in the history of the opera house. Under the Nazis, many members of the house were driven out, pursued, and killed, and many works were not allowed to be played.
On March 12, 1945, the opera house was devastated during a bombing, but on May 1, 1945, the “State Opera in the Volksoper” opened with a performance of Mozart's THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO. On October 6, 1945, the hastily restored “Theaters an der Wien” reopened with Beethoven's FIDELIO. For the next ten years the Vienna State Opera operated in two venues while the true headquarters was being rebuilt at a great expense.
The Secretary of State for Public Works, Julius Raab, announced on May 24, 1945, that reconstruction of the Vienna State Opera would begin immediately. Only the main facade, the grand staircase, and the Schwind Foyer had been spared from the bombs. On November 5, 1955, the Vienna State Opera reopened with a new auditorium and modernized technology. Under the direction of Karl Böhm, Beethoven’s FIDELIO was brilliantly performed, and the opening ceremonies were broadcast by Austrian television. The whole world understood that life was beginning again for this country that had just regained its independence.
Today, the Vienna State Opera is considered one of the most important opera houses in the world; in particular, it is the house with the largest repertoire. It has been under the direction of Dominique Meyer since September 1, 2010.
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