Mozart, Moving Forward

Overview

Researcher: Anna Lluna

It is easy to think of operatic characters as stereotypes or caricatures of the past, and that we must somehow ‘clean’ them up to fit our modern views of what is politically correct or indeed ‘relatable’ for our audiences. I contend, however, that rather than superimposing contemporary views and opinions on these characters, we must look to the past and explore the richness and depth of character that exists in the music, the libretti and the context in which these pieces were written. 

This project explores the character of Zerlina in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, a role I aspire to perform. An unusually dark opera for the Mozart/Da Ponte partnership, Don Giovanni is rife with both physical and sexual violence, whilst containing some lighter, farcical moments. There are references to rape and sexual assault, murder, and other traumatic themes that it can be tempting to smooth over for the benefit of sensitive audiences, and yet this risks undermining the potential meanings of the opera, uncomfortable as they may be. My aim in this project is to trace a path from the first performances of Don Giovanni to today, and find out how both singers and directors have approached Zerlina’s character, and what we can learn from these perspectives.

Image: compilation by Anna Lluna of companion paintings Before, 1730-1731 and After, 1730–1731 by William Hogarth (1697-1764)

Digital images courtesy of Getty’s Open Content Program