Overview
Synopsis
The wealthy old bachelor, Don Pasquale, has decided to take a wife so that he may produce an heir, cutting out his insubordinate nephew, Ernesto, out of his inheritance. Refusing to enter into an arranged marriage, Ernesto is devastated to think of a life without, Norina, a beautiful widowed woman in the village. Dottore Malatesta, a friend of Ernesto and Don Pasquale, helps the couple come up with a plan to trick Don Pasquale into giving the couple permission to be married with Ernesto’s inheritance. Disguised as a demure country girl, Norina is married to Don Pasquale in a fake ceremony and then wreaks havoc on Don Pasquale’s life. After a series of hilarious hijinks, the plan works, and Don Pasquale allows Ernesto to marry Norina, stating that marriage is not suited for an old man such as himself.
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Context
Donizetti was commissioned by Jules Janin of the Théâtre-Italien, who simply asked for a new opera buffa that would be specifically written for a few singers. Based on a libretto by Angelo Anelli, Donizetti prepared and wrote a huge deal of the libretto himself. Giovanni Ruffini was brought in as a librettist, however, he felt as though Donizetti had written so much of it that Ruffini did not want his name put on the libretto. Donizetti based the characters off of the traditional commedia
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Act I
In his mansion, Don Pasquale, an old, rich bachelor, decides that he is going to take a wife to punish his nephew, Ernesto. Ernesto refuses to marry someone that his uncle approves of because he is in love with a lower class, widowed woman, Norina. Don Pasquale decides that, by marrying someone himself, and providing himself with an heir, Ernesto will be cut off from his monetary support. Dr. Malatesta, a friend of Pasquale, comes by the mansion to suggest a bride for him; his own
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Character Portrayals
See StageAgent members who have performed roles in Don Pasquale.
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Songs
Sinfonia
Act I
- Introduzione: Son nov’ore (Dottore Malatesta, Don Pasquale)
- Aria: Bella siccome un angelo) (Dottore Malatesta)
- Recitativo e duetto: Prender moglie! (Ernesto, Don Pasquale)
- Cavatina: So anch’io la virtù magica (Norina)
- Recitativo e duetto- finale primo: Pronta io son (Norina, Dottore Malatesta)
Act II
- Preludio, scena ed aria: Cercherò lontana terra (Ernesto)
- Scena e terzetto: Via, da brava (Norina, Dottore Malatesta, Don Pasquale)
- Scena e quartetto- finale secondo: Fra da una parte (Norina, Ernesto, Dottore Malatesta, Don Pasquale)
Act III
- Coro d’introduzione: I diamanti presto, presto (Chorus)
- Recitativo e duetto: Signorina in tanta fretta (Norina, Don Pasquale)
- Recitativo: Qualche nota di cuffa (Don Pasquale)
- Coro: Che interminabile andirivieni (Chorus)
- Recitativo e duetto: Cheti, cheti, immantinente (Dottore Malatesta, Don Pasquale)
- Serenata: Com’è gentil (Ernesto)
- Notturno: Tornami a dir che m’ami (Norina, Ernesto)
- Scene e rondo- finale terzo: La morale in tutto questo (Norina)
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
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