Act III. The village of Chamounix. The Savoyards are returning and are
joyfully greeted. _Charles_, who has been able to persuade his mother to permit him to wed _Linda_, has come in search of her. Incidentally he has brought solace for _Antonio_ and _Madeline_. The De Sirvals are the real owners of the farm, the _Marquis_, _Charles's_ uncle, being only their representative. _Linda's_ parents are to remain in undisturbed possession of the farm;--but where is she?
_Pierrot_ is heard singing. Whenever he sings he is able to persuade _Linda_ to follow him. Thus her faithful friend gradually has led her back to Chamounix. And when _Charles_ chants for her a phrase of their first act duet, "O consolarmi affrettisi," her reason returns, and it is "Ah! di tue pene sparve il sogno" (Ah! the vision of my sorrow fades).
In this drama of naïveté, an artlessness which I mention again because I think it is not so much the music as the libretto that has become old-fashioned, even the _Marquis_ comes in for a good word. For when he too offers his congratulations, what does _Linda_ do but refer to the old libertine, who has sought her ruin, as "him who will be my uncle dear."
DON PASQUALE
Opera, in three acts, by Donizetti; words by Salvatore Cammarano, adapted from his earlier libretto, "Ser Marc'Antonio," which Stefano Pavesi had set to music in 1813. Produced, Paris, January 4, 1843, Théâtre des Italiens. London, June 30, 1843. New York, March 9, 1846, in English; 1849, in Italian; revived for Bonci (with di Pasquali, Scotti, and Pini-Corsi) at the New Theatre, December 23, 1909; given also at the Metropolitan Opera House with Sembrich as _Norina_.
CHARACTERS
DON PASQUALE, an old bachelor _Bass_ DR. MALATESTA, his friend _Baritone_ ERNESTO, nephew of Don Pasquale _Tenor_ NORINA, a young widow, affianced to Ernesto _Soprano_ A NOTARY _Baritone_
Valets, chambermaids, majordomo, dress-makers, hairdresser.
_Time_--Early nineteenth century.
_Place_--Rome.
"Don Pasquale" concerns an old man about to marry. He also is wealthy. Though determined himself to have a wife, on the other hand he is very angry with his nephew, _Ernesto_, for wishing to marry, and threatens to disinherit him. _Ernesto_ is greatly disturbed by these threats. So is his lady-love, the sprightly young widow, _Norina_, when he reports them to her.
_Pasquale's_ friend, _Dr. Malatesta_, not being able to dissuade him from marriage, pretends to acquiesce in it. He proposes that his sister shall be the bride, and describes her as a timid, naïve, ingenuous girl, brought up, he says, in a convent. She is, however, none other than _Norina_, the clever young widow, who is in no degree related to _Malatesta_. She quickly enters into the plot, which involves a mock marriage with _Don Pasquale_. An interview takes place. The modest graces of the supposed convent girl charm the old man. The marriage--a mock ceremony, of course--is hurriedly celebrated, so hurriedly that there is no time to inform the distracted _Ernesto_ that the proceedings are bogus.
_Norina_ now displays toward _Don Pasquale_ an ungovernable temper. Moreover she spends money like water, and devotes all her energies to nearly driving the old man crazy. When he protests, she boxes his ears. He is on the point of suicide. Then at last _Malatesta_ lets him know that he has been duped. _Notary_ and contract are fictitious. He is free. With joy he transfers to _Ernesto_ his conjugal burden--and an income.