Don Giovanni - A cenar teco m'invitasti - Mozart

(Don Giovanni! You invited me to your dinner!) Act II


Giovanni revels in the luxury of a great meal and musical entertainment (during which the orchestra plays then-contemporary late 18th century music -- including a reference to the aria "Non più andrai" from Mozart's own Le Nozze di Figaro), while Leporello serves. (Finale "Già la mensa preparata -- Already the meal is prepared"). Elvira appears, saying that she no longer feels resentment for Giovanni, only pity. ("L'ultima prova dell'amor mio -- The final proof of my love"). Surprised by her lack of hatred, Giovanni asks what it is that she wants, and she begs him to change his life. Giovanni taunts her and then turns away, praising wine and women as the "essence and glory of humankind". Hurt and angered, Elvira gives up and leaves. A moment later, her scream is heard from outside the walls of the palace, and she returns only to flee through another door. Giovanni orders Leporello to see what has upset her; upon peering outside, the servant also cries out, and runs back into the room, stammering that the statue has appeared as promised. An ominous knocking sounds at the door. Leporello, paralyzed by fear, cannot answer it, so Giovanni opens it himself, revealing the statue of the Commendatore. ("Don Giovanni! a cenar teco m'invitasti -- Don Giovanni! You invited me to your dinner"). It exhorts the careless villain to repent of his wicked lifestyle, but Giovanni adamantly refuses. The statue sinks into the earth and drags Giovanni down with him. Hellfire, and a chorus of demons, surround Don Giovanni as he is carried below.


"Don Giovanni" was premiered in the Estates Theatre in Prague on October 29, 1787. Da Ponte's libretto was billed like many of its time as dramma giocoso, a term that denotes a mixing of serious and comic action. Mozart entered the work into his catalogue as an "opera buffa". Although sometimes classified as comic, it blends comedy, melodrama and supernatural elements.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Giovanni)


~~~
Don Giovanni: Simon Keenlyside
Leporello: Kyle Ketelsen
Commendatore: Eric Halfvarson

Conduct: Charles Mackerras
The Royal Opera Chorus / The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

Film Director: Robin Lough
Sung in Italian

(http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mozart-Don-Giovanni-DVD/dp/B001U5V03U)

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Tags:

• Don Giovanni
• Mozart
• Opera

[kostaspapaza]

great video and one of the best perfomances of this opera. Did you upload this from a DVD or a Blue ray?

[MayaAtlantis]

@kostas

From a DVD. Check out the description box if you wish to learn more about it. :)

[Adagio1723]

Why does Don Giovanni have no shirt? I don't get it. Does he normally take his meals shirtless?

[chauceriangirlful]

@Adagio1723 No, it's just because everyone likes to look at shirtless Simon Keenlyside. Regardless of whether or not it's logical. :)

[GeneralFerdinand]

Downey Jr and Jude Law brought me here

[MortyBoy15]

Although I did not like this opera so much, this scene is both epic and scary!

[StarWoid1]

very scary



[sunyata76]

Of all the uploads on this scene on YouTube that I watched (I selected around 15 of the most-viewed), this was my favorite, and it totally deserves more views.

Great quality and thank you for including the subtitles!

[amarys2art]

Great video!

[Unleashmywealth]

Good job :)