PPO presents Donizetti’s ‘Don Pasquale’ March 8

Filling the gap in the opera programming in the Philippines, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) present Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale” as part of its 39th concert season March 8, 7:30 p.m., at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater.

For its seventh concert, the PPO will have a concert-style performance of the Italian opera under the baton of PPO music director and principal conductor Maestro Grzegorz Nowak.

With the Italian libretto by Giovanni Ruffini, “Don Pasquale” is one of the most popular opera buffas, along with Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville” and Donizetti’s other opera, “The Elixir of Love.” It is known for its bright and colorful vocal, and truthful depiction of characters and genuine emotions.

First premiered at the Théâtre Italien in Paris in 1843, the three-act opera follows the story of a wealthy old bachelor named Don Pasquale who decides to take a wife and produce an heir to disinherit his nephew Ernesto for refusing to enter an arranged marriage. Dottore Malatesta, a friend of the Don, promises to help Ernesto and his widowed sweetheart Norina.

Things take a humorous turn when his scheming plans are thwarted by a series of comical misunderstandings and mistaken identities. Will Don Pasquale change his mind and realize that marriage is not for him, and allow the couple to happily live ever after?

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Find out as opera soloists Dorota Sobieska (as Norina), Dariusz Machej (as Don Pasquale), Byeong-in Park (as Dr. Malatesta), Nomher Nival (as Ernesto) and Zadkiel John Yarcia (as Notary) bring to life its entertaining plot and memorable characters.

Tickets to are priced from P800 to P3,000. Visit culturalcenter.gov.ph.