Don Giovanni – Mozart

‘The production has the benefit of a first-rate new translation by Amanda & Anthony Holden, cleverly rhymed, full of telling phrases.’
The Sunday Times

‘No chance of wearying of Amanda & Anthony Holden’s translation which I like more each time I hear it.’
Evening Standard


This was Amanda’s first translation and the first of three she co-wrote with Anthony Holden; it was for Jonathan Miller’s ENO production in 1987. The work was a rushed job as the commissioned writer had dropped out and it was touch and go whether these inexperienced opera translators would finish the job in time. But, with much help from Mark Elder, it was completed in six weeks. This was the start of Amanda’s career in opera – at that time she was on the teaching staff at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

The translation has been often revived and revised. It was used (and slightly abused) for two subsequent productions at ENO. For David McVicar’s Opera North production in 1999, Amanda and McVicar worked together and revised the translation substantially; this is the version that is recorded in the Chandos Opera in English series.

Productions include:
2012 Mid Wales Opera
d. Martin Lloyd-Evans, c. Nicholas Cleobury/Andrew Griffiths

2006 Birmingham Opera Company – as He Had It Coming
d. Graham Vick, c. William Lacey

2005 Opera North
d. Olivia Fuchs, c. Richard Farnes

2001 ENO, revived 2004
d. Calixto Bieito, c. David Parry

1999 Opera North
d. David McVicar, c. Dominic Wheeler

1985 ENO, revived 1987 (c. Roger Norrington), 1989, 1991
d. Jonathan Miller, c. Mark Elder

Introduction – Notte e giorno faticar…

LEPORELLO

Night and day I slave away,
get no thanks, no food, no sleep;
rain or shine I must obey,
what a way to earn my keep!

I would rather be the master,
this is not the life for me,
no, no, no, no, no, no,
it’s not the life for me.

Canzonetta – Deh vieni

DON GIOVANNI

What light from yonder window
doth shine for my pleasure?
My lady, deign to soothe my
lonely sighing!
I come to lay before thee
earthly treasure;
come satisfy my hopes
or watch me dying.

see also:
Recordings: Chandos; also Recital Discs: Gerald Finley; Andrew Shore; Other Published Work