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Who is Leporello in Don Giovanni?
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Don Giovanni
Illustration (c. 1914) of a scene from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera Don Giovanni (1787), in which Don Giovanni attempts to seduce Zerlina.
In Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s opera Don Giovanni, Leporello is the servant of the titular character, Don Giovanni. He serves as a vital figure who provides the common man’s perspective, often offering wry or facetious observations on his master's actions.12
Throughout the opera, Leporello’s role is multifaceted:
- Confidant and Accomplice: He is frequently caught between his desire to leave his master and his dependence on him, often being persuaded to stay through money or manipulation. He assists in Giovanni's schemes, including a notable instance where they exchange clothes to deceive others.3
- Comic Relief: He provides humor, such as in the famous "Catalogue Aria," where he delightedly lists the thousands of women Don Giovanni has conquered across different nations.1
- Dramatic Foil: His presence helps ground the opera as a dramma giocoso, balancing the darker, supernatural elements of the plot with his own human reactions of fear and cynicism.23
Ultimately, Leporello survives the events of the opera, witnessing his master's descent into hell before resolving to seek a new and better master.3