This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1895 edition. Excerpt: ... marvellous penetration, the mystery which these personages assume. It might be said that the orchestra also, like them, is concealing itself under a mask. Donna Elvira is the first to speak: "We come in night and darkness, By just resentment guided, To Heaven we have confided Our trust this woe to end." Don Ottavio, who shares Elvira's feelings, is accompanied by the same figure of the orchestra, and beseeches Donna Anna to banish all fear. But she is dreading, for her lover's sake, the issue of this enterprise. "Our path is full of danger," says she with an anxiety that is faithfully delineated by the succession of sixths in the orchestra. This movement leads to a minuet played by the band on the stage. Leporello opens the window, and, perceiving the three unknown maskers, draws his master's attention to them: "Sir, see those charming maskers, Here standing just below us!" Don Giovanni, appearing at the window, replies: "Hoping they may not know us, Ask will they please ascend." "That voice and manner, surely 'Tis he whom we are seeking!" utter the three, aside. Leporello succeeds in attracting their attention. "What is your pleasure?" inquires Don Ottavio. "My master sends to invite you An hour with him to spend," answers Leporello, to which Don Ottavio responds: "Thanks, we accept with pleasure." Here occurs the celebrated and admirable trio, known generally as the "Trio of Masks." This piece is one of the innumerable jewels which compose the diadem of the prince of music. It is marked Adagio, but the time-signature is Ijz, which indicates that there should be but two beats in the bar. The indications of a Mozart are not to be questioned, but accepted. That is a first principle. And then we must endeavour to understand them. Now it is...