Nobleman Don Juan, it seems, has everything – looks, money, a palace, and, of course, more women than he knows what to do with. A seducer, not a lover. A self-confident rascal who is only loyal to himself, and those around him are powerless to the charms of his charisma and the allure of his romantic existence. "A man, whom everyone envies, is a superhero... Really? What actually ensures immortality today?" asks the creative team behind the new ballet production of Don Juan – dancer and choreographer of Cuban origin Julio Arozarena, as well as dramatist, choreographer, dancer Valentina Turcu, from Slovenia – 230 years after the world premiere of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and librettist Lorenzo da Ponte's iconic opera Don Giovanni.

By combining carefully selected music from Mozart's opera with Frederick Chopin’s variations on the theme of La ci darem la mano, as well adding Eight Dark Shadows to the well-known characters of the opera and introducing a female creature Elle of sublime beauty from a different world – beyond this one, they have created a unique, sensuously sophisticated and provocative work of art in a neo-baroque style, which will give viewers a glimpse in to the deepest secret reaches of the world’s most famous heartbreaker’s subconscious.

Synopsis

ACT I

Covered his face with a mask, Don Juan is giving delicious, sensual pleasures to Donna Anna. Suddenly, he hears the Commendatore – Donna Anna’s father – approaching, and tries to sneak away unnoticed, but instead runs directly into him. The two men get into a fight, which ends with the Commendatore’s death. Eight Dark Shadows are watching the whole incident. Donna Anna is left alone, still looking out for her mysterious lover, who has run away in haste, but instead, much to her horror, she finds her father dead. Donna Anna sees only a glimpse of the hand of the fugitive who must have killed her father. Seeing her weeping, Don Ottavio, her betrothed, hurries in and tries to console Donna Anna.

Leporello, Don Juan’s servant, complains to his master about the grave conditions of his work and his ever-increasing duties. Their conversation is suddenly interrupted by Donna Elvira – a former lover of Don Juan’s. He leaves the room, completely ignoring her.

Leporello sees that Donna Elvira must truly be in love with Don Juan. In order to convince her that Don Juan is unworthy of her love, Leporello puts on an ironical performance of his master’s romantic conquests. Donna Elvira becomes more and more vexed as she realizes the full extent of the truth regarding Don Juan’s promiscuous life, and leaves with disgust.

Leporello and Don Juan meet near the church, where they find Zerlina, a simple peasant girl, her fianc. Masetto and their friends celebrating the upcoming wedding of Zerlina and Masetto. Don Juan is intrigued by Zerlina’s naivety and thinks of seducing her, then orders Leporello to distract Masetto so that he, the famous seducer, and Zerlina can secretly flirt in the back of the church.

Donna Elvira is on her way to the cemetery when she unexpectedly spots them and warns the bride-to-be that Don Juan is nothing but an adulterous rascal. During the funeral ceremony in honour of the late Commendatore, Donna Elvira tries to persuade Donna Anna and Don Ottavio that it must have been Don Juan who killed him. Don Juan pleads innocent of the accused crime, stating that Donna Elvira must be mad with jealousy. Nevertheless, such grave accusations have given Donna Anna and her fianc. much thought, and both demand answers from Don Juan. The latter feels trapped and wants to leave. The Eight Dark Shadows are present again.

Donna Anna becomes overwhelmed with shock after Don Juan’s escape once she recognizes Don Juan’s features – identical to those of her mysterious lover on the night of her father’s death.

Don Juan has managed to escape the vengeful company and arrives home to his mansion. The Eight Dark Shadows are also present. While Don Juan questions his own actions in the light of recent events, his vision of ultimate femininity and love, named Elle, appears in his subconscious mind, reflecting his essence and touching the core of his very soul.

Masetto, jealous of Don Juan’s advances and angry with Zerlina for sneaking off with that adulterer, tries to teach her a lesson. Zerlina begs him to beat her if he wants, but maintains her innocence.

Young ladies are enjoying polyamorous joie-de-vivre, but Masetto's friends are looking for Don Juan to punish him for his immoral actions. Suddenly, Donna Elvira, Donna Anna and Don Ottavio appear to confront Don Juan with the charge of murder. Don Juan ironically ignores all the accusations as the crowd surrounds him in vain.

Elle reappears in the moment when her subject of attention again questions his own actions.

ACT II

Leporello and Don Juan have managed to escape the crowd. Leporello, now completely vexed with his master, wants to quit his job, but Don Juan appeals to him and presents him a new plan of seducing Donna Elvira, in order to reconcile with her for good. Leporello and Don Juan swap clothes, each of assuming the identity of the other.

Don Juan stands by while his servant Leporello, who is in fact in love with Donna Elvira, pretends to serenade her from under her window. Donna Elvira is convinced of Don Juan’s repent and is willing to invite him (actually Leporello) into her chambers. Masetto and his friends have found a lead to Don Juan’s whereabouts. They all begin to fight, but Don Juan manages to beat up Masetto and disappear. Zerlina finds Masetto on the floor. He tells her that Leporello (actually Don Juan) beat him up, and Zerlina promises to soothe his wounds with her love.

Donna Elvira learns about yet another treachery of Don Juan’s and wants to have her revenge. When she finds Leporello, presuming she has found Don Juan, Leporello takes off his mask in front of them. Don Juan has fooled them all – again.

Back in his mansion, Don Juan orders Leporello to make all the necessary arrangements for a festive dinner. The Dark Shadows condense in more and more around Don Juan, but he is reckless and ignorant.

The dinner guests slowly enter, and Don Juan invites his luxurious and snobbish company to join him in the feast. Elle suddenly reappears, stops time and lies down on the table, offering her hand to Don Juan as a manifestation of mesmerising beauty and freedom that is beyond his comprehension.

At the height of the party, Don Juan is unexpectedly drawn into a fight with the dark matter shadow creatures, realising there is something greater than himself, and that it is impossible to avoid one’s fate. His day of reckoning has finally come: the darkness condemns him to everlasting torment, covering each and every one with the gloom.

When everything is gone for good, Elle reappears as an eternal substance of love and some other profoundly essential dimension takes over...