Don Pasquale

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.

Related Topics:
Opera buffa - Gaetano Donizetti - Ferdinand I of Austria - Giovanni Ruffini - Camerano - Giulia Grisi - Giovanni Mario - Antonio Tamburini - Luigi Lablache

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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.

Related Topics:
Commedia dell'arte - Pantaleone - Pierrot - Scapino - Columbina

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