Don Pasquale is a comic opera (opera buffa) in three acts by Gaetano Donizetti. At the time of its composition, Donizetti had just been appointed music director and composer for the imperial court of Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria, and Don Pasquale was the 64th of an eventual 66 operas he composed. Its libretto was adapted by Giovanni Ruffini from an older Italian opera, Ser Marc' Antonio, by Camerano. Don Pasquale was first produced at Paris's Théatre Italien in 1843, with Giulia Grisi as Norina, Giovanni Mario as Ernesto, Antonio Tamburini as Malatesta and Luigi Lablache as Don Pasquale. Opera buffa (comic opera), also known as Commedia per musica (musical comedy), or Dramma giocoso per musica (musical dramatic comedy), is a form of opera. ... Gaetano Donizetti Domenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti (29 November 1797–8 April 1848) was a famous Italian opera composer. ... Emperor Ferdinand Ferdinand I Karl Leopold Joseph Franz Marchlin Emperor of Austria King of Hungary and Bohemia (April 19, 1793 – June 29, 1875) succeeded his father (Franz II Holy Roman Emperor/Franz I of Austria) as Emperor and King in 1835 and was forced to abdicate in 1848. ... Giulia Grisi (1811 - November 29, 1869), was an Italian opera-singer. ... Luigi Lablache (6 December 1794 - 23 January 1858) was an Italian bass of French and Irish heritage, born in Naples. ...

The opera, in the tradition of opera buffo, harkens back to the stock characters of the commedia dell'arte. Pasquale is recognizable as the blustery Pantaleone, Ernesto as the lovesick Pierrot, Malatesta as the scheming Scapino, and Norina as a wily Columbina. The false Notary echos a long line of false officials as operatic devices. Karel Dujardins set his closely-observed scene of a travelling troupes makeshift stage against idealized ruins in the Roman Campagna: dated 1657 (Louvre Museum) Commedia dellarte (Italian, meaning comedy of professional artists) was a form of improvisational theater which began in the 16th century and was popular until... Pierrot is a stock character of pantomime. ... This article is about the theatrical character. ...

Characters

Don Pasquale (bass)

Norina (soprano)

Ernesto (tenor)

Dr. Malatesta (baritone)

Notary (tenor)

Bass can refer to: In music (low frequencies): Instruments: Bass guitar. ... Look up Soprano on Wiktionary, the free dictionary In music, a soprano is a singer with a voice ranging approximately from the A below middle C to the C two octaves above middle C (i. ... In music, a tenor is a male singer with a high voice (although not as high as a countertenor). ... This is an article on the voice type. ... In music, a tenor is a male singer with a high voice (although not as high as a countertenor). ...

Plot

Place, Rome.

Ernesto, nephew of Don Pasquale, is in love with Norina, and has refused to marry a "more suitable" woman chosen for him by Don Pasquale. The old man accordingly plans to wed and produce his own heirs. His physician, Dr. Malatesta, suggests his sister, Sofronia, a convent girl, as the bride. The Don accepts, and Norina disguises herself as Sofronia and signs a marriage contract before a sup­posed notary. Norina now behaves like a shrew, making life so miserable for the old man that he is relieved when he discovers that he has been duped. He repudiates his desire for marriage and consents to the union of his nephew with Norina.

ACT I. Introduction between Don Pasquale and the doctor. (Romance of Malatesta: “Oh, like an angel of beauty”; Cavatina, Pasquale: “Oh, how I feel the glow of fire in my heart”; Duet between Ernesto and Pasquale: “How? You will? Marry me.”) Change of scene: Norina’s cavatina:, Ah, beneath all eyes”; Duet between Norina and the doctor: “See, I am ready with love to surround him.”

ACT II. Ernesto alone; then Pasquale, Norina, doctor. (Terzett: “Take courage”; Finale: “On one side,” etc.)

ACT III. Chorus: “Bring the jewels at once”; Duet between Pasquale and Norina: “Dear wife, may I ask”; Duet between Pasquale and the doctor: “Softly in the dark.” Change of scene: Ernesto’s serenade: “As Luna laughs in the fragrant night”; Duct between Ernesto and Norina “Do I read in your looks ?“ Finale: “Heaven, what do you say? This is Norina.”

References and external links: Plot taken from The Opera Goer's Complete Guide by Leo Melitz, 1921 version.