Don Giovanni, K. 527
3 min
Recording
- No. 7 Là ci darem la mano (Don Giovanni, Zerlina)Reinald Werrenrath, baritone; Mabel Garrison, soprano; orchestra conducted by Josef Pasternack · 18 February 19203:12
“Là ci darem la mano”, No. 7 in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, K. 527, is the duet in which Don Giovanni courts Zerlina, ending with the two voices together in 6/8. Reinald Werrenrath and Mabel Garrison sing it on this 1920 Victor recording, conducted by Josef Pasternack.
Listening notes · joins
- Giovanni’s offer to Zerlina
Giovanni has got Zerlina’s bridegroom out of the way. He offers her an easy tune in A major and the promise of a new life. The strings play quiet chords between the bass notes, leaving room for his voice.
- Zerlina’s reply, A major
Zerlina replies in the same A major. She sings “I would like to, and I wouldn’t.” She says her heart trembles, thinks of Masetto and fears that Giovanni may deceive her.
- Recording, Camden, February 1920
Mabel Garrison and Reinald Werrenrath recorded the duet in Camden, New Jersey, on 18 February 1920, with Josef Pasternack conducting. It was issued on a ten-inch Victor disc, catalogue number 87569.
- Closing Allegro in 6/8
The closing Allegro changes from 2/4 to 6/8. Giovanni and Zerlina sing together, much of the time a third apart, to the same words, “Andiam” (let us go).
- Elvira’s entrance after the duet
In the opera, Donna Elvira interrupts the couple as soon as the duet ends. “Stop, wretch!” she calls to Giovanni, and she takes Zerlina away.
Joins
- Shortened exchanges before “Andiam”
The A major invitation returns in shorter phrases. Giovanni starts his offer again between Zerlina’s replies, and the bass plays short pulses beneath quiet string chords. Zerlina then sings a descending chromatic line on “Non son più forte” (I can resist no longer). The pause comes after this line, before “Andiam”.
- Fermata, then Allegro in 6/8
After Zerlina’s assent, a fermata halts the music. The Andante in 2/4 is followed by an Allegro in 6/8, still in A major. Held bass notes sustain the accompaniment, and the two singers move together in parallel thirds.