Afternoon at the Opera

Don Pasquale

 
Two men on stage with one person covered in veil

metopera.org

From The Metropolitan Opera website

The story of Don Pasquale revolves around a classic comedic premise: a young couple in love schemes to thwart the inappropriate plans of a pompous old man, who wants to marry the girl himself. What makes the opera notable within this familiar genre is its emphasis on genuine human emotion. Donizetti’s score is graceful and effervescent, as one would expect from this master of melody, but adds an additional level of sophistication to match the comic (yet insightful) proceedings.

Donizetti’s lighthearted farce stars celebrated debutante soprano Eleonora Buratto, tenor Javier Camarena, a new king of the high Cs, and baritone Ambrogio Maestri, the recent and unforgettable Met Falstaff—an ideal team for this comic romp. Otto Schenk’s 2006 production provides a colorful backdrop. Maurizio Benini conducts.