Don Pasquale

The Story

ACT I.

Don Pasquale decides to teach his nephew Ernesto a lesson by marrying and cutting him out of the will. (Ernesto has refused to marry the woman Don Pasquale chose for him.) Pasquale’s friend Dr. Malatesta suggests his own younger sister as a bride. Delighted and already counting his future children, Pasquale tells Malatesta to arrange a meeting at once, not knowing that Ernesto and Malatesta are scheming against him. Ernesto, who loves the young widow Norina, again refuses Pasquale’s marriage directive, so Pasquale announces his own plans to marry Malatesta’s sister. Without an inheritance, Ernesto sees his dreams evaporating. Even worse, he learns that his own friend Malatesta has arranged Pasquale’s marriage.

Norina is at her house working on her latest romance novel and taking stock of her own arsenal of tricks for manipulating men. A farewell note from Ernesto upsets her, but Malatesta arrives to enlist her in his plot to teach Pasquale a lesson. He suggests she impersonate his sister, marry Pasquale in a fake ceremony, and drive him to such desperation that he will be at their mercy. Norina eagerly rehearses her new role.

ACT II.

Barred from Pasquale’s house, Ernesto sits and laments losing Norina. Meanwhile, preparations are being made for Pasquale’s meeting with his bride-to-be. He is enchanted when Malatesta introduces “Sofronia” (who is really Norina) and decides to marry at once. Ernesto forces his way into the house, stumbling onto the wedding. He nearly ruins everything by denouncing Norina’s faithlessness, but Malatesta fills him in on the plan, and Ernesto even witnesses the contract. As soon as the contract is sealed by the Notary, “Sofronia” transforms from demure ingénue to extravagant shrew.

Intermission

ACT 3.

In his garishly redecorated house, Pasquale deals with an enormous stack of bills run up by “Sofronia.” When the servants arrive with even more purchases, he furiously resolves to stop all the nonsense. Elegantly dressed on their wedding night, Norina sweeps through the room on her way to the theater, giving Pasquale a slap when he dares to get in her way. As she leaves, she intentionally drops a letter setting a romantic meeting in the garden that night. Beside himself, Pasquale sends for Malatesta, who assures him they will trap “Sofronia” with her mysterious lover.

In the starlit garden, Ernesto serenades Norina. They are interrupted by Pasquale and Malatesta, but not soon enough to catch Ernesto, who slips into the house while “Sofronia” protests her innocence. Malatesta now announces that Ernesto is going to bring his own bride, Norina, into the house. “Sofronia” insists she will never share the house with another woman. She threatens to leave, at which Pasquale cannot contain his joy. He grants permission for Ernesto to marry Norina—with his inheritance. Astonished to discover Norina is really “Sofronia,” Pasquale gives the couple his blessing and joins in observing that marriage is not for an old man.

– adapted from The Metropolitan Opera