Initially, after reading the libretto, I saw Don Giovanni as a tragedy. Although Leporello served as a comic foil to the character of Don Giovanni, providing many light moments to break the tension, it seemed the greater themes made the story more of a drama. The libretto tells the story of a tragic hero, a womanizer whose pride and reckless, self-centered behavior ultimately causes his downfall. Throughout the story, Don Giovanni deceives and betrays many women and acts selfishly at the expense of others. Betrayal, jealousy, and revenge are dominant themes that seem to ultimately triumph (with Don Giovanni’s condemnation to death for his wicked deeds).
However after seeing the opera, complete with music and actors who added another dimension to the story, I found the story to be much more comedic! There were moments where I actually found myself laughing out loud, especially at Leporello’s side comments. The plot seemed all the more obscene and ridiculous, with characters running back and forth in the madness of it all. Relations between the characters—Don Ottavio’s undying devotion to Donna Anna, Zerlina’s back-and-forth jig between the romancing Don Giovanni and the envious Masetto, and Donna Elvira’s relentless attachment to Don Giovanni—seemed all to be a bit outlandish and definitely amusing. Then there were clearly comical scenes (like Leporello’s switch with Don Giovanni) that were there for the mere purpose of entertainment. Together, all of these scenarios and relationships played out by the performers, accompanied by music, made the plight of Don Giovanni seem like much more of a comedy than tragedy!
There were definitely class differences reflected in the libretto when you compare the relationships of Donna Anna and Don Ottavio versus Masetto and Zerlina. Donna Anna was a wealthy woman who Don Ottavio dotingly followed, whereas Masetto didn’t fawn over Zerlina in the same way. Their relationship was more straightforward and simple; neither worshiped one another and they were together for their modest love for one another. Don Giovanni emphasized the stark differences between the aristocracy and the underclasses. He acted as an entitled aristocrat, doing as he pleased and taking all women as if they were subject to his will and needs. Even though he was so “fair” and “generous” to take women of all shapes, ages, and classes, he generally acts greedily and lustfully towards women (and Leporello too!), as if his wealth justifies his domineering attitude.
The music did a good job of conveying the many characters, moods, and interactions, pulling one scene into the next. The music was used to create both comedic and dramatic atmospheres, depending on the context. For instance, Donna Elvira’s aria was high, long, and trailing, helping to convey her longing for her seducer. Leporello’s solo was light and fast paced, with a lively, storytelling melody –adding to the humor of his aria. The Comendator’s arrival was booming and dramatic, with slow, deep and thundering tones to convey his dooming message to Don Giovanni. Romance, comedy, bitterness, sadness, and misfortune were all conveyed through the music, with its varying pace, harmonies, and range. Mozart used a very dynamic approach in his compositions to make them carry the quickly shifting moods of the story.
I really enjoyed seeing an opera to contrast the many contemporary performances that we saw throughout the semester. I like that it was in many ways over-the-top and impersonal to the audience because it was more of a spectacle. Rather than trying to engage the audience or make us experience some kind of complex emotion or message, its purpose was simply to entertain. And because it is older, there were more standards that it had to conform to. But this is not necessarily a bad thing. Its structure, its drama, it flamboyant costumes and its grandiose music created a kind of complete experience that I really enjoyed. Sure, I wasn’t emotionally or intellectually engaged, but the opera presented a great story in a magnificent setting with lavish visual and audio accompaniment that are interesting to take in and be overwhelmed by. It is always great to see something different to find an appreciation for the captivating elements of each unique kind of performance we saw.