Norina and Ernesto are a young couple in love but then Don Pasquale, Ernesto’s aged uncle, decides to interfere. He has other plans for his nephew involving marriage to a wealthy single lady. Dr Malatesta comes to the aid of the bewildered young pair, sparking off a series of entertaining developments – bizarre incidents, mix-ups and hard lessons about life – before the happy ending is reached and they marry. All this is accompanied by Gaetano Donizetti’s captivating melodies. His Don Pasquale, considered one of the foremost Italian comic operas, is a Romantic game that scored an instant success at its Parisian premiere in 1847. It is also a homage from Donizetti to the opera buffa tradition. Laurent Pelly’s famed dramatic imagination is brought to bear here on a masterpiece of the genre.

Don Pasquale

Dramma buffo in three acts. Libretto by Giovanni Ruffini based on a text written by Angelo Anelli for the opera Ser Marcantonio by Stefano Pavesi. Premiered on 3 January 1843 at the Théâtre Italien in Paris. First performed at the Gran Teatre del Liceu on 19 January 1848. Last staged at the Liceu on 13 May 1986.

Conductor
Diego Matheuz

Stage Direction and Costumes
Laurent Pelly

Scenography
Chantal Thomas

Lighting
Duane Schuler

New Co-production
Gran Teatre del Liceu, Santa Fe Festival (Nuevo México) and San Francisco Opera

Symphony Orchestra and Chorus of the Gran Teatre del Liceu