Don Giovanni

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Composer
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Librettist
Lorenzo Da Ponte
Based On

a centuries-old Spanish legend about a libertine as told by playwright Tirso de Molina in his 1630 play El burlador de Sevilla y convidado de piedra

Company
San Francisco Opera Association
Location
San Francisco, CA
Venue
War Memorial Opera House
Season
1938
Language
Italian

Creative/Crew

Conductor
Fritz Reiner
Stage Director(s)
Herbert Graf
Chorus Master
William Tyroler

Cast

Don Giovanni, a licentious young nobleman
Ezio Pinza
Don Pedro, the Commendatore
Norman Cordon
Donna Anna, his daughter
Elisabeth Rethberg
Don Ottavio, her fiancé
Dino Borgioli
Leporello, servant of Don Giovanni
Salvatore Baccaloni
Donna Elvira, jilted by Don Giovanni
Irene Jessner
Masetto, a peasant
Louis D'Angelo
Zerlina, his betrothed
Mafalda Favero

Show Dates

Broadcast

Live broadcast, Act I.

Time and Place

Seventh Century; Seville

Scenes

Act I, Scene 1 -- Courtyard of Palace of the Commandant
Scene 2 -- Street in Suburban Seville
Scene 3 -- In Don Giovanni's Palace
Scene 4 -- A Countryside
Scene 5 -- Ballroom in Don Giovanni's Palace
Act II, Scene 1 -- Same as Scene 2, Act I.
Scene 2 -- A Dark Hallway
Scene 3 -- A Cemetery
Scene 4 -- Room in Donna Anna's Palace
Scene 5 -- In Don Giovanni's Palace

Media

Notes

To access the full production program, click the PDF link above.

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10/10/1938, live broadcast, Act I: "Don Giovanni, Act I: Ezio Pinza (Don Giovanni), Salvatore Baccaloni (Leporello), Elisabeth Rethberg (Donna Anna), Irene Jessner (Donna Elvira), Mafalda Favero (Zerlina), Norman Cordon (Commendatore); Fritz Reiner. Company premiere of Don Giovanni."

Dancers