DON PASQUALE " Don Pasquale " is an opera buffa in three acts with text and music by Gaetano Donizetti. It was first pre sented at the Theatre des Italiens, Paris, on Jan. 4, 1843.
Don Pasquale, an antiquated bachelor.
Doctor Malatesta, the physician and friend of Don Pasquale.
Ernesto, nephew of Don Pasquale.
Norina, beloved by Ernesto.
A Notary.
Chorus of valets and chambermaids, majordomo, dress maker and hair-dresser.
The scene of this gay and witty work is laid in Rome at the beginning of the Nineteenth Century, and enjoys the distinction of being of the best of Donizetti's lighter operas. The cast is small and the work too brief to require an entire evening for its performance, thus making necessary the employment of a ballet or of another short opera.
Don Pasquale is a rich old bachelor with a nephew Ernesto, who wishes to marry but does not fancy the desirable party picked out for him. Ernesto has fallen in love with the charming Norina and has no thoughts for other women. The uncle resolves upon a most piquant punishment. He will marry himself and disinherit the recalcitrant young man. He confides the idea to Dr. Mala testa, who is also Ernesto's friend and the physician suggests a lady whom he represents as being his sister Sophronia, fresh from the convent and utterly ignorant of the " pomps and vanity of this wicked world." In reality, he has in mind Norina and a sham marriage contract. The lady consents to the plot and has much sport in rehearsing before the Doctor the bashful demeanor he has recommended. She has rather ingenuously admitted that she is mistress of all the arts of coquetry and when she is presented, her beauty and timid modesty easily win the old man's affections. The marriage contract is speedily
signed and Don Pasquale is so pleased that he puts most of his fortune in the name of his bride. With this consum mation, an amazing change comes over Norina. Her modesty is changed to worldliness; she makes magnificent arrangements for a new wardrobe, instructions are given to the servants for housekeeping on an extravagant scale and, with a grand air, she gives orders for a splendid dinner for at least fifty guests. The bridegroom is horrified to find half a year's income gone merely for hats and ribbons, and added to the lady's prodigality are all the attributes of a termagant.
On the very eve of the wedding, she insists on attending the theatre and she boxes her fiance's ears when he ventures to disapprove. To make matters thoroughly unpleasant for the unhappy Don Pasquale, Norina drops a love-letter conveniently near for detection. From its contents, he concludes that she is unfaithful into the bargain and so orders her out of his sight.
Malatesta relents on viewing his abject distress. He reveals the true situation and advises Don Pasquale to let Norina go as he is not really married to her. Don Pasquale's delight at his escape is so great that he finds it easy to forgive Malatesta for his deception and his consent to the union of Norina and Ernesto is crowned with his blessing.
The opera abounds with melodious numbers but the world-wide favorite is the serenade. " Corn' e' gentil," sung in the last act by Ernesto.