3 immortal pieces from the opera DON GIOVANNI by Mozart – with the best interpretations from YouTube (Hits, Best of)

To describe the result of what became of the collaboration of Da Ponte and Mozart, you can not spare superlatives. “World theater on the level of Don Quixote and Hamlet” or “opera of operas” are attributes of this opera heard and read over and over again.

Leporello’s famous register aria – Madamino, il catalogo è questo

Accompanied by giggling flutes, he begins to read from the register. The aria is titled “Register Aria” for this reason.

In Italy, six hundred and forty
In Germany, two hundred and thirty-one
A hundred in France, ninety-one in Turkey
But in Spain already one thousand and three.
Leporello saves the greatest impudence for last:
When she wears only a skirt,
You know what he does.

Tantalizingly slow, he sings “quell’ che fa” 4 times and pokes around with relish in poor Elvira’s wound. Mozart and Da Ponte prove truly black humor.

You’ll hear a great interpretation by Ferruccio Furlanetto, accompanied by the comic acting of Donna Elvira and Don Giovanni in this Metropolitan Opera recording. The facial expressions alone are a delight.

Madamina, il catalogo è questo – Furlanetto

The beautiful love duet la ci darem la mano

In this scene we experience for the first time Don Giovanni’s art of seduction. On the one hand, this consists of a seductive melody sung with languor. In addition, he lies to her about marriage and wealth. It is psychologically interesting that Don Giovanni adapts himself musically to the peasant environment and Mozart puts a simple, all but other aristocratic melody down his throat. Zerlina is somewhat coy about “vorrei e non vorrei” (I will and yet I will not), but Mozart’s music shows us that she is happy to be lathered up by her Prince Charming, Don Giovanni, as he has her musically repeat everything Don Giovanni sings to her until they finally sing the melody together.

Eberhard Wächter was the Don Giovanni of the Giulini recording. He captivates with an immensely seductive performance.

La ci darem la mano – Wächter / Sciutti

Zerlina soaps Masetto – batti, batti bel Masetto

This piece is one of Mozart’s magical love songs. Even if Zerlina wraps her Masetto around her finger in this aria, and Mozart composed teasing moments with trills, it is still a beautiful love aria. Mozart’s beautiful idea of the solo cello, which tenderly caresses her voice during this aria, deserves special mention.

We hear Lucia Popp singing the aria with a warm and luminous voice.

Batti, batti o bel Masetto – Popp