House Programme - Don Giovanni
Introduction of Opera Scenes Performance
Don Giovanni, an opera composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with an Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte, was first performed in 1787 at the National Theatre in Prague. Conducted by Mozart himself, the premiere was met with great acclaim, captivating audiences with its complexity and intensity. The opera is based on a legendary tale about Don Giovanni, a notorious nobleman who seduces countless women. His servant, Leporello, keeps a record of Giovanni’s many conquests. The plot thickens when Don Giovanni kills the Commendatore after failing to seduce his daughter, Donna Anna. This act sets off a chain of events filled with deception, betrayal, and revenge, leading to Giovanni's ultimate downfall.
Though Mozart categorized the opera as a comic drama, Don Giovanni combines elements of both comedy and tragedy, blending light-hearted moments with dark, dramatic scenes. The story culminates in a dramatic finale where Giovanni is dragged to hell by the statue of the Commendatore, whom he had wronged. The opera's unique mix of styles and its exploration of moral themes have secured its reputation as one of the greatest operas ever written.
Performers
| Character | Performer |
| Leporello | Aaron Kwan Cheuk-shing (Baritone) Bachelor of Music (Honours), Year 4 |
| Donna Anna | Lieserl Huen Tsz-ying (Soprano) Bachelor of Music (Honours), Year 4 |
| Donna Anna | Sicilia Lin Yuyin (Soprano) Bachelor of Music (Honours), Year 4 |
| Don Giovanni | Jerry Fung Chun-man (Baritone) Bachelor of Music (Honours), Year 1 |
| Don Ottavio | Matthew Keung Hung-kwan (Tenor) Master of Music, Year 2 |
| Donna Elvira | Alice Li Zixian (Mezzo-soprano) Master of Music, Year 2 |
| Donna Elvira | Victoria Chen Qijing (Soprano) Bachelor of Music (Honours), Year 4 |
| Zerlina | Jenty Leung Ka-tung (Soprano) Bachelor of Music (Honours), Year 4 |
| Zerlina | Jeannie Chen Jing (Soprano) Master of Music, Year 2 |
| Masetto | Chad Lu Wenzhe (Baritone) Bachelor of Music (Honours), Year 1 |
| Masetto | Kam Ka-yiu (Tenor) Bachelor of Music (Honours), Year 3 |
| Commendatore | Michael Lam Chun-ting (Graduate) |
| Pianist |
About Vocal Studies of School of Music
The comprehensive teaching programme of the Department of Vocal Studies is designed to prepare students for careers as singers through giving them a broad experience of the vocal repertoire for solo recitals, concert arias, oratorios and operas. Apart from their intensive weekly major study vocal and technical lessons, students receive vocal coaching, professional accompaniment, diction, language tuition, vocal pedagogy and ensemble classes.
Students have opportunities to perform regularly in the Academy Choir, as soloists in operas, in chamber music and in the regular public concerts of the Department of Vocal Studies. All vocal students take part in the annual fully-staged opera production in the Academy Drama Theatre under the guidance of eminent professional guest conductors and opera directors. In addition to the fully staged opera presentation in the second semester, costumed opera scenes with the Academy Symphony Orchestra are presented in the first semester of each year.
The curriculum is enriched with frequent masterclasses and workshops given by international visiting artists.