Commander in Opera: Contexts Cover Image

Komandor w operze. Konteksty
Commander in Opera: Contexts

Author(s): Jadwiga Jęcz
Subject(s): Music
Published by: Koło Naukowe Studentów Muzykologii UJ
Keywords: Commander; Stone Guest; Don Juan; opera; Don Giovanni; Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this article is to analyse the presence of Commander in Mozart’s Don Giovanni as well as show the references to other opera depictions regarding the myth of Don Juan. Commander, also known as the Stone Guest, is an animate tombstone figure, which appears in every classic-based version of the story about Don Juan Tenorio (Don Giovanni) in order to summon a rogue to conversion; when he fails to do so, he drags the rogue to hell. The spectacular character of the final scene turned out to serve as an inspiration for numerous opera makers, from Mozart to Rimsky-Korsakov (Mozart and Salieri). This theme, which has not been the subject of research before, is definitely worth exploring.

  • Issue Year: 2018
  • Issue No: 04 (39)
  • Page Range: 21-38
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: Polish