Vancouver Opera’s season continues with two more performances of Gaetano Donizetti’s comic opera, Don Pasquale February 15 and 18. Opening last Saturday at Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Don Pasquale is another opulent production, with whimsical sets, comic turns, and soaring vocals – and laundry!
Before the curtain raises a full-height Fotoromanzo (romantic-comic photo novel) teases audiences with the backstory of this production lead by the famed creative pair, Barbe & Doucet. Costume/Set Designer André Barbe and Stage Director/Choreographer Renaud Doucet, who last transformed the Queen E stage with their bold La Bohème in 2019, return for Don Pasquale.
Once again they transport the audience to another time and place; “Pensione Pasquale” the tired downtrodden hotel owned by miserable Don Pasquale (Gregory Dahl), but run by his nephew Ernesto (Josh Lovell) and equally worn staff – a withering bellman, greasy chef, and chain-smoking maid. Amidst the burnt sienna tones, bursts of colour from Pasquale’s collection of cat memorabilia, remind him of his allergy to his beloved four-legged former guests. Doctor Malatesta (Phillip Addis) has been trying to cure the reclusive senior-citizen, and witnesses his demands that Ernesto lose his inheritance if he doesn’t marry a woman of status when his true love is Norina (Elizabeth Palese).
Malatesta and Norina devise a plan to pass her off as his imaginary sister Sofronia, a kittenish straight-from-the-convent ingenue sure to win over Don Pasquale. With the plan in motion, as soon as they sign a marriage contract Sofronia/Norina turns from kitten to lioness, disrupting Don Pasquale’s life and spending vast amounts of his fortune. With the set turning from its previously muted hues to a vibrant la dolce vita, driving the old man to despair at his new wife’s ways, until he wishes he’d never rocked the boat and interfered with Ernesto’s love life. Will be get his wish?
The audience gets it wish in beautiful vocals from the leads, Gregory Dahl, Josh Lovell, Phillip Addis and especially Elizabeth Palese, carrying Donizetti’s majestic work through the night. As we’ve come to expect from Vancouver Opera’s lush productions, not only was the stage filled with grand multi-level set design, the VO Opera Chorus cover the set with up to 30 performers, and the Orchestra fills the auditorium with opulent sounds.
The comic opera is not one to miss, as it brings light to the winter spend an evening travelling to Pensione Pasquale. Don Pasquale plays again February 15 at 7:30pm and February 18 at 2pm. If you don’t already, get your tickets now for the final show of Vancouver Opera’s 2023-2024 season, Bizet’s Carmen on April 27 – May 5. In addition, renew or purchase season subscriptions for the recently announced 2024-2025 Season including: Strauss’ Die Fledermaus, Jonathan Dove’s Flight and Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. Find information for all shows at vancouveropera.ca