W. A. Mozart: Don Giovanni

Cambridge Opera Handbooks

by Julian Rushton

This book is a study of Mozart's Don Giovanni, his second opera to a libretto by da Ponte. Although it is one of the handful of best-known and most often performed operas of the last two hundred years, Don Giovanni is seldom given in an authentic form and arguments persist as to its nature. Julian Rushton takes the view that, notwithstanding the tragic nature of certain scenes, it must be regarded as an opera buffa. He gives a brief summary of its history and life in the theatre, but the chief historical essay (by Edward Forman) concerns the subject-matter before it reached da Ponte. The book includes a very detailed synopsis which forms the basis of an extended commentary on the librettist's handling of a plot constructed of both original and inherited ideas. Bernard Williams contributes an essay on Don Giovanni as an idea in literature and philosophy since Mozart. The book concludes with an extensive bibliography, and a discography of complete recordings compiled by Malcolm Walker.

Genres: Music

165 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 1981

Reviews

[Ralph Burton]

I don’t know if I’m awarding the book or the opera (the opera of operas) but this was a fine read. Mozart’s darkest, most psychological work has haunted many a living room with its infernal, inglorious sound — that first note the most famous in all of time.

[Sammy]

For me, the best single overview of this opera that I've seen.