ABSTRACT
The Don Juan Legend was first put into theatrical form by Tirso de Molina in the early decades of the seventeenth century. The manner of dancing devised for the ballet was new and startling and introduced significant reforms into the art of choreography, and the legend itself was considerably ennobled by the choreographer, Gasparo Angiolini. A detailed biography of Angiolini is still lacking. He was evidently a man of remarkable and unflagging talents. Angiolini was appointed in 1758 to the important position of ballet master to the Viennese court, and it was there that he met Gluck. With Don Juan Angiolini deliberately sought to create a new style of ballet. The ballet had its premiere on 17 October 1761 at the Burgtheater in Vienna, following a performance of Jean Francois Regnard's 1696 five-act comic opera Le Joueur. The scenery was by another member of Gluck's circle of friends, Giovanni Maria Quaglio. Angiolini danced the role of Don Juan.
