OPERA DON PASQUALE, by Donizetti

PERFORMERS

Toni Marsol Don Pasquale
Serena Sáenz Norina (16, 18, 20, 22 and 25 February)
Marga Cloquell Norina (27 February and 2, 4 and 13 March)
Pablo Martínez Ernesto
Manel Esteve Dottor Malatesta
Xavier Puig Musical direction
Carles Ortiz Stage direction and costumes
Esteve Gorina Stage direction assistant
Jordi Galobart Stage design
Montse Figueras Costume design
Nani Valls Lighting
Costumes FOC
Chorus of the Associació d’Amics de l’Òpera de Sabadell
Orquestra Simfònica del Vallès

PROGRAMME

G. DONIZETTI: Don Pasquale
Comic opera in three acts (Surtitles in Catalan).
Libretto by Donizetti himself and Giovanni Ruffini, based on the libretto by Angelo Anelli Ser Marcantonio for the composer Stefano Pavesi.
First performed at the Thêatre-Italien in Paris, on 3 January 1843.
DON PASQUALE tells us the story (very typical of Italian opera buffa) of a rich old man who has been single all his life and whose heir, his nephew Ernesto, is a wastrel. Ernesto is in love with a young widow, Norina, but his uncle considers her unsuitable and has chosen another woman to be his wife. Ernesto refuses to go along with the wishes of his uncle, who consequently decides to get married himself. A family friend, Doctor Malatesta, devises a trap: he passes Norina off as his sister Sofronia, who has recently left a convent, and who wins Don Pasquale’s heart with her modesty. Once married, however, Don Pasquale’s new bride changes character completely, becoming despotic and bossy. She also begins to spend recklessly. Her husband will not stand for this and, after an unpleasant incident in which his wife slaps him, decides to end the marriage. Malatesta culminates his plan by saying that Ernesto must marry Norina, who will become the new mistress of the house. An angry Sofronia refuses. However, in order to be rid of her, Don Pasquale acquiesces. They then reveal that they have deceived him, since Sofronia and Norina are the same person. A relieved Don Pasquale forgives everyone.