Don Giovanni was given its premier in Prague on 29th October 1787 at the National Theatre with Mozart conducting. The year before had seen the huge success of Figaro in Prague. Mozart and Da Ponte wanted to capitalise on this success with another opera for the city. Da Ponte was already working on librettos for other composers when the impresario Bondini suggested that Mozart should set the Bertali version of the Don Juan legend which had already been successful that year for the composer Gazzaniga. Da Ponte's libretto for Mozart drew on various versions of the legend by Molina, Moliere and Goldini in addition to Bertali. With Mozart's music, the definitive version of the tale was born.

The Vienna premiere followed on May 1788 at the Burgtheater, again with Mozart conducting. Various changes were made for this performance including the substitution of "Dalia sua Pace" added to the first act for "il mio tesoro" from act 2 which Mozart's Viennese tenor found too difficult. There were slight alterations to the recitative and a scene added to act 2 for the Viennese Elvira who wanted a more showy aria. The epilogue to the Act 2 finale was also cut so that the opera ended with Don Giovanni's descent to Hell.

The first performance In England was in English at the King's theatre in London on 12th April 1817.