Don Pasquale
Barbara Hendricks portrays Norina and Gabriel Bacquier sings the title role in this recording.
It All Works Out for the Best
Sometimes an old dog can learn new tricks. Pittsburgh Opera concludes its 2018-2019 season with Donizetti’s comic masterpiece, Don Pasquale. Don Pasquale, an old and wealthy bachelor, wants to arrange a marriage for his nephew, Ernesto, to secure the young man’s future. Ernesto is already in love with the young widow, Norina, but Don Pasquale does not approve. Don Pasquale decides to get married himself and disown his nephew. His friend, Dr. Malatesta, arranges for Don Pasquale to marry his sister, Sofronia, really Norina in disguise. Let the antics begin! In the end, all works out for Ernesto and Norina, but not before teaching Don Pasquale a lesson.
This production of Don Pasquale sets the story in 1950s Hollywood for a fresh take on the classic tale. Look for local favorite, Kevin Glavin, in the title role.
Explore more about Don Pasquale through the CD, DVD and book recommendations on this list. Maybe I will see you at the opera!
Don Pasquale
Beverly Sills and Alfredo Kraus play the young lovers, Norina and Ernesto, in this classic recording.
Don Pasquale
Alessandro Corbelli sings the title role while Danielle de Niese and Alek Shrader play the young lovers in this live production from the Glyndebourne Opera House.
Don Pasquale
This Metropolitan Opera production is packed with star power: John Del Carlo as Don Pasquale, Anna Netrebko as Norina, Matthew Polenzani as Ernesto and Mariusz Kwiecien as Doctor Malatesta.
The New Grove Masters of Italian Opera
William Ashbrook and Julian Budden share their knowledge of Donizetti’s life and work in one of the chapters. Musical examples are given and a works list is included.
The Bel Canto Operas of Rossini, Donizetti, and Bellini
Osborne’s overview of Don Pasquale provides information about the thematic structure of the opera and its enthusiastic reception by audiences of Donizetti’s time. The opera continues to be one of Donizetti’s most performed works. Some interesting facts: Donizetti claims to have written the whole opera in eleven days (!) and Richard Strauss’ opera Die schweigsame Frau and Don Pasquale are based upon the same source material, Ben Jonson’s play, Epicoene or the Silent Woman.