Don Pasquale (1843) is considered the last masterpiece in a long tradition of Italian comic opera (opera buffa). The theme of the feisty young girl who outsmarts an old gaudy gentleman and marries her great love was already very popular in the 18th century. Yet Donizetti does not follow tradition completely, because Don Pasquale is not a pure farce. When the heroine Norina slaps old Don Pasquale in
… the face, this is not a great moment of laughter; we feel sorry for the man. Director Stefano Vizioli therefore avoided overly farcical elements in his production of the opera for La Scala in 1994. Don Pasquale is portrayed not as a fat man with a slightly oversized mustache, but as a respectable gentleman from the enlightened era. The cheerful atmosphere and humor remained unaffected. Conductor Riccardo Muti keeps the tempo relentlessly tight at the right moments but also gives room for rubato. Add to that an excellent cast and this is certainly one of the best Don Pasquale shows available on DVD. (CP)more
