Premiered: January 3, 1843 - Comédie-Italienn, Paris Setting of
Don Pasquale: Donizetti's Don Pasquale takes place in Rome
during the early 19th century. The Story of Don Pasquale Don
Pasquale, ACT 1 Don Pasquale, an old man, tells his nephew,
Ernesto, that he has found a young woman for Ernesto to marry,
but Ernesto refuses. Ernesto tells Pasquale that he has already
found his lover, a poor young woman by the name of Norina.
Pasquale becomes angry at his nephew's lack of respect, and in
an effort to punish Ernesto and cut him out of his inheritance,
takes it upon himself to marry a young woman himself. His infant
son would take the inheritance instead. Don Pasquale calls upon
his doctor, Dr. Malatesta. The two men discuss Pasquale's plans
to marry, and after thinking for a while, Malatesta describes a
young beautiful woman. After a barrage of questions, Malatesta
tells Pasquale that the young woman is his sister. Pasquale is
delighted and overjoyed. However, Malatesta has his own plans.
Thinking Pasquale is