Donizetti was a master of bel canto opera in both its serious and comic forms. He wrote Don Pasquale in 1843 for a quartet of famous singers of the day, and was soon recognized as the pinnacle of opera buffa. The story centers around Don Pasquale, a foolish older man who decides to disown his nephew Ernesto for falling in love with a woman below his class, and proceeds to take a young bride for himself. Little does he know that he has met his match. Norina, Ernesto’s fiancée, enlists the help of their friend Dr. Malatesta to turn the tables on Don Pasquale’s outdated, patriarchal views of women. Laughter abounds as a clever and resourceful young woman claims her agency and allows young love to triumph. Don Pasquale will be sung in Italian with English supertitles.

Music by Gaetano Donizetti
Libretto by Giovanni Ruffini and Donizetti
Conducted by Jennifer McGuire
Directed by Johnathon Pape