Opera Omaha | Don Pasquale

Don Pasquale

Oct 27 29 2023

SHOW INFORMATION

Dates

Oct 27, 2023	7:30 PM
Oct 29, 2023	2:00 PM

Venue

Orpheum Theater

409 S 16th St
Omaha, NE 68102

Location

OVERVIEW

Composed by Gaetano Donizetti
Libretto by Giovanni Ruffini

The performance runs approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes with one 20-minute intermission

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION

Hijinks and cunning flourish in this delightful comic opera. A crochety miser is thwarted in his attempts to thwart his nephew out of an inheritance. With the guise and wit of a clever young woman and a family friend, the old man becomes tangled in the vines of his own buffoonery.

Baritone Jorell Williams will make his role and Opera Omaha debut as the miserly Pasquale with returning artists Vanessa Becerra (The Marriage of Figaro 2023, Les Enfants Terribles 2019) and Miles Mykkanen as the young lovers, and Luis Alejandro Orozco in his Opera Omaha debut as the puppet master, Dr. Malatesta.

SYNOPSIS

Act I

The crochety old bachelor, Don Pasquale, waits for his friend, Dr. Malatesta, who has arranged a marriage for him. Malatesta enters and informs Don Pasquale that he has found a bride – his own sister. He shall bring her to Pasquale the following day. This is all to satisfy Pasquale’s plans to punish his rebellious nephew, Ernesto, by marrying and disinheriting him. Ernesto arrives and again refuses to marry a woman of his uncle’s choice. He is in love with the young widow, Norina. Pasquale informs him that he will have to leave the house, then announces his own marriage plans to his astonished nephew. With no inheritance, Ernesto sees his dreams evaporating. To make matters worse, he learns that his friend Dr. Malatesta has arranged Pasquale’s marriage.
On her terrace, Norina laughs over a silly romantic novel she is reading. Malatesta arrives. He has been plotting on her and Ernesto’s behalf and explains his plan: Norina is to impersonate his sister, who is, in reality, a nun living in a convent, marry Pasquale in a mock ceremony, and drive him to such desperation that he will be at their mercy. Norina is eager to play the role if it will enable her and Ernesto to be together.

Act II

Now disowned, Ernesto, who is unaware of Malatesta’s scheme, bemoans that he cannot ask Norina to share his life of poverty and exile. Pasquale, on the other hand, is impatient to meet his bride-to-be and enchanted when Malatesta introduces the shy and fearful “Sofronia.” Pasquale decides to get married at once. Malatesta’s false notary draws up the contract, making Sofronia mistress of the house and owner of half of Pasquale’s wealth. During the wedding ceremony, Ernesto bursts in. Malatesta quickly and quietly explains to him what is going on and Ernesto plays witness to the wedding contract. As soon as the document is sealed and signed, Norina instantly changes her act from demure girl to hostile spendthrift shrew. The shocked Pasquale protests, to the delight of Norina, Ernesto, and Malatesta.

Act III

Pasquale’s new “wife” has gone on an extravagant spending spree and has amassed a stack of bills. When servants arrive carrying more purchases, Pasquale furiously resolves to assert his rights as husband. Norina enters, dressed elegantly for the theater. When Pasquale tries to block her way, she slaps him. Seeing the poor man’s misery, she sympathizes for the old man’s pain, but remains resolute in her scheme. As she departs, she deliberately drops a letter. It is a note implying that she has a rendezvous with a young lover in the garden that night. The desperate Pasquale sends for Malatesta. The servants gossip about the tense couple. Malatesta coaches Ernesto to make sure that Pasquale will not recognize him when he plays his part as the lover in the garden that evening. Malatesta then assures Pasquale that they will trap Sofronia in a compromising situation. Pasquale is happy to leave everything to Malatesta.
In the garden, Ernesto serenades Norina, and the two declare their love. Pasquale and Malatesta spy on them, then ambush. But they are too late to catch the young man, who slips into the house. Sofronia denies her guilt. Malatesta then announces that Ernesto is about to introduce his own bride, Norina, into the house. Sofronia protests she will never share the roof with another woman and threatens to leave the house. Pasquale is overjoyed and grants permission for Ernesto to marry Norina, with his inheritance. Malatesta tells Pasquale that the bride is already here, and Norina reveals her identity. Pasquale accepts the situation with good humor, gives the couple his blessing, and joins in observing that marriage is not for an old man.

SHOW INFORMATION

Dates

Venue

Orpheum Theater

Location

OVERVIEW

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION

SYNOPSIS

Act I

Act II

Act III

CREATIVE TEAM

Gary Thor Wedow

Conductor

Octavio Cardenas

Director

Abigail Hoke-Brady

Lighting Designer

Ronell Oliveri

Wig & Makeup Designer

CAST

Jorell Williams

Don Pasquale

Vanessa Becerra

Norina

Luis Alejandro Orozco

Dr. Malatesta

Miles Mykkanen

Ernesto

Matthew Sommer

Notary

Chorus

Artistic & Production Staff

Omaha Symphony