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ACT I
The old bachelor Don Pasquale wants to marry
in order to punish his rebellious nephew, Ernesto, by providing himself
with an heir and cutting the young man off without a penny. Dr. Malatesta,
calling on Pasquale in his sunny morning room, suggests as a bride
his own beautiful younger sister, whom he compares to an angel. Delighted,
Pasquale tells him to arrange a meeting at once and pushes Malatesta
from the room; even now the old man feels his youth returning. When
Ernesto comes from his room, he again refuses to marry a woman of
his uncle’s choice, saying he loves the widow Norina; the old
man tells Ernesto he will have to leave the house. Pasquale then
announces his own marriage plans to his astonished nephew. With no
inheritance in the offing, Ernesto sees his dreams evaporating. To
add insult to injury, he learns that his friend Malatesta has arranged
the marriage of Pasquale, who gloats over Ernesto’s discouragement.
On her terrace Norina reads a romance, laughing at the feminine
wiles it describes and taking stock of her own caprices. Suddenly
depressed by a farewell note from Ernesto, she is cheered by the
arrival of Malatesta, who is plotting on the lovers’ behalf.
He suggests she impersonate his sister, marry Pasquale in a mock
ceremony and drive him to such desperation that he will be at their
mercy. Norina declares her willingness to play her role as a convent-bred
country girl and goes about rehearsing gestures.
ACT II
In Pasquale’s living room,
Ernesto, ignorant of Malatesta’s scheme, bewails the
prospective loss of Norina. He leaves at the arrival of his
uncle, who is presenting himself for an interview with the
bride-to-be. Pasquale is enchanted when Malatesta introduces the
timid “Sofronia” and
resolves to marry at once. At the wedding ceremony that follows,
Ernesto bursts in and denounces Norina’s faithlessness;
Malatesta, aside, quickly informs him of the ruse, lest he
ruin it, so Ernesto plays witness to the contract. No sooner
has the Notary sealed the document and Pasquale bequeathed
his fortune to his bride than Norina turns from demure ingenue
to extravagant hussy. While Pasquale protests, Norina, Malatesta
and the now convinced Ernesto delight in their success.
ACT III
In the redecorated living room,
Pasquale is confronted by the stack of bills his new “wife” has
amassed. When the servants arrive laden with more purchases,
the furious old man resolves to assert his rights as husband.
Elegantly dressed, Norina sweeps through the room on her
way to the theater, giving Pasquale a slap when he tries
to bar her way. As she leaves, airily saying she will return
in time to wake him the next morning, she drops a letter
from an unknown suitor appointing a rendezvous in the garden
that night. The desperate Pasquale sends for Malatesta,
then leaves the servants to comment on the advantages of
working in a household fraught with such confusion. Later,
Ernesto promises Malatesta to be in the garden that evening. Alone
with Pasquale, Malatesta assures the old man they will
trap “Sofronia” in
a compromising situation. The vengeful Pasquale agrees to leave everything
to Malatesta.
In the starlit garden, Ernesto serenades Norina, who
responds rapturously. Their idyll is interrupted by Pasquale
and Malatesta – too late to catch the
young man, who slips into the house while Norina plays the innocent
wife. Malatesta now announces that Ernesto is about to
introduce his own bride, Norina, into the house. Norina,
still playing her part, huffily exclaims she will never
share the roof with another woman. She threatens to leave,
at which Pasquale cannot contain his joy. Ernesto appears,
and over “Sofronia”s mock protests
Pasquale grants permission for Ernesto to marry Norina, with his
inheritance. Dumbfounded to discover Norina is none other
than “Sofronia,” Pasquale
gives the couple his blessing and joins in observing that marriage
is not for an old man. |
