Cunning plans, alluring singing, affrays and slapped cheeks – Don Pasquale features all this and more on stage, remaining a pearl of charm and carefree humour. The intrigue in Gaetano Donizetti’s opera buffa masterpiece centres around the idea of cooling the protagonist’s hot temperament. He is an elderly bachelor who suddenly decides to disinherit his disobedient nephew Ernesto and produce his own heir with a demure young woman. Enter doctor Malatesta, suggesting Don Pasquale marries his “sister” who is about to complete her convent education. His agenda is that she’ll show him the sort of manners she couldn’t have possibly picked up from her fellow nuns and turn out to be the reason for Ernesto’s waywardness! Fortunately, the comedy Don Pasquale also carries a note of compassion for the duped protagonist.
The performance, directed by the renowned Polish actor Jerzy Stuhr – making his debut as an opera director – premiered at the Kraków Opera on 2 December 2016.
Igor Kuranda, "Karnet" magazine
Director: Jerzy Stuhr
Music Director: Tomasz Tokarczyk
Set Designer: Alicja Kokosińska
