Pittsburgh Opera presents Don Pasquale

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Pittsburgh, PA…
February 20, 2019
Chris Cox, Director of Marketing and Communications
Office: 412.281.0912 ext. 217
Mobile: 412.427.7088 or
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Rejections, objections, and deceptions - Pittsburgh Opera presents a fresh take on a classic comedy, Donizetti’s Don Pasquale

Pittsburgh, PA… Pittsburgh Opera will finish its 80th season with a fresh take on Gaetano Donizetti’s Don Pasquale, one of history’s greatest comic operas, in a 1950s Hollywood production that has never been performed in Pittsburgh.

The story concerns old and wealthy bachelor Don Pasquale, who has been the caretaker of his nephew, Ernesto, for some time. Pasquale attempts to secure Ernesto’s future by arranging a marriage between Ernesto and a “proper” girl. However, Ernesto is in love with the young widow Norina, and refuses to marry Pasquale’s suggested bride. With the help of their friend Dr. Malatesta, Ernesto and Norina set out to trick Don Pasquale into letting them marry after all.

Dr. Malatesta has Norina impersonate his sweet, innocent sister and marry Pasquale in a fake wedding. She then drives Pasquale up the wall with a series of outrageous antics until he is at her mercy and will agree to anything to get rid of her.

This production is a Hollywood retrospective with a focus on The Silent Film Era and the Golden Years of the 1950s.

As always, English supertitles will be projected above the stage.

Gary Wedow conducts. Chuck Hudson directs.

Performance Dates/Times/Location/Length

Where: Benedum Center for the Performing Arts, downtown Pittsburgh

When:
- Sat., April 27, 2019 * 8:00 PM
- Tues., April 30, 2019 * 7:00 PM
- Fri., May 3, 2019 * 7:30 PM
- Sun., May 5, 2019 * 3:00 PM (note special start time)
Run Time:

2 hours, 30 minutes, with one intermission

Language:

Sung in Italian with English texts projected above the stage

Tickets and Group Discounts

Single tickets for adults start at $14; tickets for kids and teens ages 6-18 are half-price. Student discounts available. Call 412-456-6666 or visit pittsburghopera.org/tickets.

Group Discounts available for groups of six or more.

Fun Facts

Star soprano Lisette Oropesa, who is singing the role of Norina, is an accomplished marathon runner. During her most recent Pittsburgh Opera performances, for 2015’s The Daughter of the Regiment, she ran the Pittsburgh Marathon the morning after the show’s opening night.
Movie buffs will love the plethora of classic movie references woven throughout this production, including Sunset Boulevard, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The Nutty Professor, Auntie Mame, Pleasantville, Ed Wood, Dracula, and The Wizard of Oz.
Director Chuck Hudson studied under the French master of comedy Marcel Marceau at his school in Paris. Hudson is bringing many of the lessons he learned from Marceau about comic timing, style, and technique to this production.

The Story, in brief

See the Don Pasquale show page for complete synopsis.

Media Events

Please contact Chris Cox for reservations

Photo Call (April 15, 12:30 PM) – location TBA
Full Dress Rehearsal (April 25, 7:00 PM), Benedum Center

Related Events

Free Brown Bag concert (4/13)
Opera Up Close (4/14)
WQED Preview (4/20 & 4/26)
New Guard Lounge (4/27)
Meet the Artists (4/30)
Audio Commentary (4/30)