Opinion

For the Record

In a new series, Jimmy Bilimoria discusses a work from the Stuart-Liff Collection he oversees at the
NCPA. This month, he writes about Gaetano Donizetti’s Don Pasquale, the final comic opera by a man
who loved to delight his audience.
Don Pasquale is The time at which
a comic opera Donizetti wrote
in three acts by this was a very
Gaetano Donizetti difficult period in
which premiered his life. Almost 50
in Paris in 1843 years old, he was
and had its Italian at the height of his
premiere later that fame but suffering
year in Milan. from a series of
It is a ‘romantic deaths in the family
comedy’ with 19th- and exhausted
century values. The from his journeys
plot, set in Rome, between Vienna,
revolves around Paris and Italy.
Don Pasquale, who This, in addition
wants his nephew to working long
Ernesto to marry hours every day,
for convenience eventually took a
instead of love. toll on him. The
Ernesto, however, composer said
is in love with Norina, a young widow. perfect in Don Pasquale from the famous farewell to comic opera with this work.
Dr. Malatesta, who is Pasquale’s friend, overture with its serenade theme to the Together with The Barber of
wants to help the lovers unite and final admonishment against marrying Seville and Falstaff, Don Pasquale
hatches an elaborate plot with Norina to at an old age. In between are gems like forms the great Italian comic opera
achieve this. He presents her as his sister the Norina-Malatesta duet in the first triad of the 19th century. It is a triad of
to Pasquale, suggesting that they should act, the squabble between Pasquale and great vitality which still dominates the
marry each other. Once the contract of Norina in the second and in the famous world’s opera houses.
marriage is finalised, Norina is to harass third act, the secret meeting of Pasquale To bring out the flavour of this
Pasquale to such an extent, that he will and Malatesta, and Ernesto’s serenade, opera, we have in our collection a
eventually be relieved to be rid of her, ‘Com’è gentil’. true interpretation of the characters
even if it is to marry Ernesto. A veritable In Norina’s entrance aria, set to an involved headed by a master singer,
success when it premiered, the humour irresistible dance tune, she laughs Tito Schipa, accompanied by
of Don Pasquale lies in the chicanery at sentimental tales and asserts her Ernesto Badini, Afro Poli and
that Pasquale must endure and the own ability to stimulate love. The Adelaide Saraceni. The opera has been
metamorphosis of Norina from a shy, humour is captivatingly revealed in conducted by Carlo Sabajno, who
demure bride to a ‘virago’. the aforementioned duet, as is was among the prominent conductors of
Don Pasquale is the quintessential old sympathy when Norina feels sorry the time.
bachelor, old-fashioned, stingy, gullible for the slap she gave Pasquale. It is
but a good person. Dr. Malatesta is a Norina’s capacity for tenderness that The NCPA houses the world-famous
man who lives by his wits. Ernesto and keeps her sense of humour within Stuart-Liff Collection of 6,000 books,
Norina are young, impulsive and willing the bounds of good taste; and that 11,000 LPs and 12,000 CDs on
to do anything to marry each other good taste is found everywhere in Western classical music. This collection
and even more to make sure Ernesto the music. It is said that Donizetti was generously donated to the Centre
is not disinherited by Pasquale. Four composed the opera in a very in 2009 by Vivian Liff, on behalf of
characters and a story as old as time, short time—in about two weeks. George Stuart and himself, as a gesture
yet Don Pasquale stands apart from the The whole action is carried by the of their friendship with Chairman Mr.
rest. Pasquale, defeated and tricked, is four principals. The chorus has one Khushroo N. Suntook, an avid collector
depicted as ridiculous and pathetic and moment of prominence in the last and connoisseur himself. The collection
is eventually deprived of his last illusion act and then appears as background is an invaluable source for research by
about life. for Ernesto’s serenade. The overture musicologists and students as well as for
The music is exquisite—at times is mainly concerned with Ernesto’s general music lovers. The library housing
GETTY IMAGES

brilliant and at others playful, but also serenade from the last act and Norina’s the collection is open from 10 am to 5.15
sentimental when it needs to be so. All is aria from the first. pm on weekdays.

52 • August 2023 NCPA