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A Night at the Opera!
The Amato Opera's New Production of
Donizetti's
"Don Pasquale"
Photos copyright
2008 David Wentworth
To be used only with permission of the photographer |
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Don Pasquale (Nathan Hull, above) is furious with his nephew,
Ernesto (Anthony Daino, right), for deciding to marry Norina
rather than the girl he has selected. Pasquale decides that he himself
should marry so that he can cut his nephew out of his will.
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Don Pasquale warns his nephew Ernesto that he will be disinherited for
disobedience, but Ernesto refuses to marry anyone but Norina. Pasquale
asks his friend Dr. Malatesta to find a young bride for him to marry.
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Meanwhile, Norina (Trudy Wodinsky) hatches a plot with Dr. Malatesta
to deceive Pasquale, whom she has never met. She will disguise herself
as Malatesta's sister, "marry" Pasquale, and proceed to
make Pasquale's life a living Hell!
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Norina disguised as "Sofronia", arrives at Pasquale's attired in a modest
veil. She is lead by her "brother", Dr. Malatesta (Charles
Sanford).
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Pasquale signs the fake Marriage Certificate which is produced
by the phony Notary (Mark W. Bentley) who has been hired for
the occasion .
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The Notary pronounces "Sofronia" and Don Pasquale as man and wife.
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Much to Pasquale's dismay and Ernesto's amusement, Sofronia immediately
sheds her timidity and starts ordering her "husband" about.
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Norina as Sofronia proclaims she will redo the house and hire more servants.
Malatesta and Ernesto are both delighted at the joke.
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By the end of the first act, Don Pasquale has been relegated to a subsidiary
role in his own household.
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At intermission, Anthony Amato, the founder of the opera company, addresses
the audience. Tony both directs and conducts this new production
of "Don Pasquale".
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Under the spying eyes of the new servants, Don Pasquale attempts to stop
his new wife from going out dancing on their wedding night. "Sofronia"
puts her husband in his place and proclaims her independence, much
to his unhappiness.
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The new servants are highly amazed at the forcefulness of their new mistress.
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Pasquale enlists Dr. Malatesta in a plot for revenge.
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Emboldened by his own scheme, Pasquale doesn't know that Malatesta is a double-agent
and is actually helping the other side!
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Dr. Malatesta and Don Pasquale prepare to surprise Pasquale's wife
and her lover in the garden. Little does he suspect that the lover
is his nephew and that his wife is really Norina!
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Pasquale is befuddled at the turn of events, but....
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He thanks Heaven when Dr. Malatesta reveals that Sofronia is really Norina
and he hasn't married a shrew after all. Ernest is now free to marry Norina
- with Pasquale's blessing.
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In consolation, all gather for Don Pasquale's 70th Birthday Party. After all,
there does have to be a Happy Ending - even for Pasquale!
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As is the tradition of the house, Tony Amato presents the cast for the Curtain
Call.
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