Act I

Scene 1: Outside the home of the Commendatore of Seville.
Leporello is complaining of the fate that makes him a servant to such a restless and dangerous man as Don Giovanni, who is at this moment engaged in an amorous adventure trying to seduce Donna Anna, the daughter of the Commendatore.

Don Giovanni comes out of the house pursued by Donna Anna who is pummeling and berating him while trying to see his face, which Don Giovanni has covered to hide his identity. The Commendatore comes in to investigate the source of all the commotion. He challenges Don Giovanni and though, at first, Don Giovanni is reluctant to engage him, they finally fight, and the Commendatore is killed by Don Giovanni’s sword. Giovanni and Leporello escape. Donna Anna is grief-stricken over her father’s death as Don Ottavio, her fiancée, tries to console her.

Scene 2: A street in Seville.
The scene changes and Don Giovanni is on the prowl again, accompanied by Leporello. They see a woman who is disconsolately crying, asking God to help her grief, for she has been betrayed and abandoned. Don Giovanni begins his pursuit and, too late, recognizes the lady as Donna Elvira, an old flame whom he seduced and, then, abandoned. Quickly, he tries to escape, but Donna Elvira is relentless and it is evident that she still loves him. He puts Leporello in charge of explaining to her that she is neither the first nor will she be the last of his master’s conquests, in the famous Catalogue Aria.

Scene 3: Courtyard near Don Giovanni’s palace.
The scene changes to the countryside near Don Giovanni’s palace, not far from Seville. A group of happy peasants is dancing and singing and celebrating the approaching wedding of Zerlina and Masetto. Giovanni and Leporello join in the celebration. Don Giovanni already has cast his covetous eyes on the beautiful Zerlina, who has responded to his flattery and gallantry. Don Giovanni orders Leporello to take Masetto out of the way, offering to give him refreshments in his palace. Masetto balks at this, saying that Zerlina cannot remain there without him. Don Giovanni assures him that he is leaving Zerlina under the protection of a nobleman, and Zerlina, who has been impressed by Giovanni’s courtliness, is irked at Masetto for not leaving. Masetto finally understands what this is about and angrily allows himself to be led away by Leporello. The seduction of Zerlina begins in earnest, but Zerlina is not an easy conquest, and Giovanni ends up having to propose marriage to her. However, just as they are about to leave, Donna Elvira arrives and takes Zerlina away from Don Giovanni, warning her about the base nature of this man. Donna Anna and Don Ottavio arrive, and Giovanni approaches them with great courtesy, secure in the knowledge that Donna Anna does not recognize him. Just then, Elvira returns and, in front of everyone, denounces Don Giovanni as a heartless deceiver, while Giovanni tells them that Elvira is mad and tries to calm her down. Donna Anna suddenly recognizes Don Giovanni as the man who seduced her and killed her father.

Scene 4: Outside Don Giovanni’s palace.
Masetto reproaches Zerlina for her flirtation, and she begs his forgiveness. Just as Masetto is being mollified, his suspicions are aroused again as Zerlina becomes nervous upon hearing Giovanni’s voice. With the festivities now in full swing, Giovanni and Leporello endeavor to keep Masetto and Zerlina separated. There is a diversion at the entrance, as three unknown masked guests arrive. Unbeknownst to Giovanni, they are Donna Elvira, Donna Anna, and Don Ottavio, who have determined to confront Giovanni. The maskers are invited to join the party by Giovanni.

Scene 5: Don Giovanni’s palace.
The dancing begins and, as Leporello detains Masetto by a variety of means, Giovanni takes Zerlina to another room. Masetto breaks free of Leporello, who rushes to warn his master. Just as Leporello disappears, Zerlina’s piercing shriek for help is heard from within. Don Giovanni rushes out, sword in hand, dragging with him none other than the luckless Leporello, who has been made the scapegoat for Giovanni’s failed seduction. But this ruse does not deceive anyone, as Anna, Elvira, and Ottavio unmask and accuse Giovanni of the murder of the Commendatore. Don Giovanni, cool and intrepid as always, manages to escape his own party.

Act II

Scene 1: A street where Donna Elvira lives.
Donna Elvira’s maid has caught the eye of Don Giovanni, so he comes determined to serenade her. But first, he has to get rid of Donna Elvira, who is on her balcony admitting that, in spite of everything she knows about Giovanni, she still loves him. He changes clothes with Leporello, who now has to impersonate Giovanni and lure Elvira down from her balcony and into the garden, leaving the field open for Giovanni to seduce her maid. Alone at last, Giovanni starts his serenade of Elvira’s maid. Masetto and a band of peasants enter. Giovanni pretends to be Leporello. Masetto inquires where he and his friends can find that scoundrel Giovanni, whom they intend to kill. Giovanni takes charge and divides the group up and sends them off in different directions. Once he has Masetto alone, he gives him a good beating and leaves him groaning on the ground. Zerlina arrives and, finding Masetto in such pain, starts to console him. She may be attracted to the Don, but her heart belongs to Masetto.

Scene 2: A Tavern.
Masetto and Zerlina have also made their way there and, soon, Donna Anna and Don Ottavio arrive. They are all intent on finding and killing Don Giovanni, whom Donna Elvira passionately defends until the terrified Leporello throws off his disguise and reveals his true identity. Once again, Donna Elvira has been deceived! The fury of the group does not diminish much when they find out that they have apprehended the servant and not the master.

Scene 3: A cemetery.
After their various escapades, Leporello and Don Giovanni find themselves in a cemetery. Giovanni, as always, is ready to laugh the whole adventure off, but a solemn voice warns him that he will not be laughing by morning. They trace this voice to the statue of the Commendatore. While Leporello is once again terrified, Giovanni insists that he invite the statue to dinner that evening, an invitation which the Commendatore accepts.

Scene 4: A room in Donna Anna’s home.
Don Ottavio broaches the subject of their upcoming marriage and is chided by Donna Anna, who says she can’t possibly think about that at a time like this, when she is consumed by grief for her father’s murder.

Scene 5: Don Giovanni’s palace.
Don Giovanni is at the dining table, singing about the pleasures of life. Musicians are playing while he dines, and all seems to be well until Donna Elvira enters and begs the man who has betrayed her so many times to mend his ways, all to no avail.

Suddenly, Elvira shrieks in terror and flees. Don Giovanni sends Leporello to investigate what could have scared her. Leporello’s scream is heard next as he returns to report that the statue of the Commendatore is outside. The Commendatore enters. Giovanni, trying to regain his equanimity, invites him to sit down to supper, but the Commendatore invites Giovanni to instead repent his sins and accompany him to heaven. Giovanni refuses and, unrepentant to the end, is dragged into the fires of Hell.