Donizetti's Don Pasquale
Arizona Opera,
Tucson, January 23, 24 & 25, 2004 &
Phoenix, January 29, 30, 31 & February 1, 2004
The opera was directed by David Gately with design team Harry
Frehner, Tony Fanning and Helen Rodgers and the conductor was Steven
White. The opera was sung in English and double cast for Norina and
Ernesto.
The pictures below were provided by Tim Fuller of Arizona
Opera.
Thanks to Bette Jones for providing the comments below. The
production here gives yet another setting for the opera and shows what an
indestructible old war horse it is, which, with a good production and
willing performers, still makes for a highly enjoyable evening.
The setting is Old West Arizona in the 1880's, and takes place
in Don Pasquale's hotel. There is poker game going on at one of the
tables, and an old drunk keeps trying to get into the hotel
lobby. The director added a mute character "Hop Sing" which
represented the old west Chinese houseboy which worked really well.
One of the funniest moments is the very opening when Malatesta
arrives and Pasquale says "Avanti, avanti." The translation of that
for this production was "Howdy Pardner." Another....when
Ernesto arrives at Pasquale's hotel on a horse...however, it isn't a real
horse but rather a wooden one on wheels. At the very end, the same
horse is "led" in and Don Pasquale gets on it, and someone hands him his
plate of spaghetti.
Ernesto's Act III serenade is accompanied by an on-stage
Mariachi band (fake instruments) wearing huge sombreros and moving to the
rhythm of the aria.
Tracy Dahl was superb as Norina with great coloratura work
timed impeccably with the comedy and excellent acting. Ying Huang
was less effervescent and seemed to lack the breath to carry the
line. Tracy Dahl's "Ernesto" was sung by John Tessier, who was not
only handsome of body but also handsome of voice. Good acting, solid
vocal performance all the way through including sitting in the bathtub,
shown below, with just undershorts and then having to get up and
wrap a towel around himself without exposing too much. This took a bit of
aplomb on the part of both the tenors (and both pulled it off well).
The other Ernesto was Jesus Garcia who took a bit to get warmed up and
into the part. His acting was fine; his vocal line was weak in
places, not just high notes which he accomplished well albeit a bit
thin. Matthew Lau as Don Pasquale was superb with a beautiful
range and a thrilling low register as well as wonderful acting. His
patter duet with Dr. Malatesta was great, and they even encored
it! Keith Phares sang Dr. Malatesta for all performances and
he, also, did a really good job.
Steven White's conducting was taut and considerate of the
singers, and he paced the tempo and dynamics to make the most of sublime
as well as comedic moments. Arizona Opera's orchestra continues to
be outstanding
All in all, it was a great production for American audiences,
especially those of us here in the Western part of the States and, even
though it may all sound a bit weird to people who do not know about the
U.S.' old west, anyone who remembers the TV show "Bonanza" as well as the
old western movies of John Wayne, etc. would get a kick out of the
setting.
****
Don
Pasquale (Matthew Lau) and the demure, at this point, Norina
(Ying Huang)
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Ernesto (Jesus Garcia) singing his "Cherchero lontana
terra" sitting in an old bathtub, with three "saloon girls"
attending him - one is writing the letter as he "dictates" it, one
is scrubbing his back, and one is pouring his drinks for him
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Norina (Tracy Dahl) and Doctor Malatesta (Keith
Phares)
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Norina (Tracy Dahl) and Ernesto (John Tessier)
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