Don Pasquale – Donizetti Opera
Donizetti’s Comic Opera Buffa Summarized
Don Pasquale an Italian opera buffa by Gaetano Donizetti. Don Pasquale plot summary, Don Pasquale characters, and other opera info.
Gaetano Donizetti’s Don Pasquale
Composed: 1842
Don Pasquale's First Performance: January 3, 1843, Théâtre-Italien, Paris (France)
Language: Italian
Don Pasquale's Libretto: Giovanni Ruffini and Gaetano Donizetti based on Angelo Anelli’s libretto for Pavesi’s opera Ser Marc’ Antonio.
Don Pasquale's Setting: Italy
Opera buffa (comic opera) in 3 acts
The Main Characters in the opera Don Pasquale
- Don Pasquale, an old bachelor (bass)
- Ernesto, nephew of Don Pasquale (tenor)
- Norina, young widow (soprano)
- Dr. Malatesta, a friend of Don Pasquale (baritone)
Basic Plot Summary of Donizetti's Don Pasquale
Act I
Don Pasquale is a wealthy, and lonely, old man who wants a bride. Don Pasquale wishes to disinherit his nephew, Ernesto, who is in love with the widow Norina. Pasquale goes to his friend, Malatesta, to help him find a wife so that he can leave his inheritance to his own children rather than his nephew. Malatesta, believing Don Pasquale is quite foolish, (and also being friends with Ernesto) offers to introduce him to his sister “Sofrinia.” (who happens to be Norina in disguise)
Act II
“Sofrinia” meets Don Pasquale, and he immediately falls in love with this quiet and shy bride. They sign the marriage contract, which leaves half of his possessions to his bride. As soon as the contract is signed, she becomes noisy, obnoxious, and demanding toward Pasquale (everything she was not before they were married) annoying Don Pasquale. Malatesta informs Ernesto of the scheme. Don Pasquale fears that he has made an awful mistake.
Act III
“Sofrinia” has gone to the theater (with Ernesto) without Don Pasquale, which angers him. He confronts her, and she slaps Don Pasquale, telling him that it is time to end the marriage. Norina drops a note from Ernesto. Don Pasquale enlists Malatesta to help him catch “Sofrinia” in the act of adultery by setting a trap. Ernesto is serenading Norina when Pasquale arrives to prove that “Sofrinia” was an adulteress. When Don Pasquale sees that “Sofrinia” is in love with his hated nephew, he blesses their marriage, happy to be free of the woman. “Sofrinia” is revealed to be Norina and Don Pasquale realizes that he has been duped.
Other Operas written by Gaetano Donizetti:
- Zoraida di Granata (1822)
- Anna Bolena (1830)
- L’elisir d’amore (1832)
- Lucrezia Borgia (1833)
- Lucia di Lammermoor (1835)
- Roberto Devereux (1837)
- Maria Stuarda (1834)
- Daughter of the Regiment (1840)
- La Favorite (1840)
- Dom Sébastien
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