Don Pasquale (Italian pronunciation: [dɔm paˈskwaːle]) is an opera buffa, or comic opera, in three acts by Gaetano Donizetti with an Italian libretto completed largely by Giovanni Ruffini as well as the composer. It was based on a libretto by Angelo Anelli for Stefano Pavesi's opera Ser Marcantonio written in 1810[1] but, on the published libretto, the author appears as "M.A."
Donizetti so dominated the preparation of the libretto that Ruffini refused to allow his name to be put on the score. This resulted in confusion over the identity of the librettist for more than half a century,[2] but as Herbert Weinstock establishes, it was largely Ruffini's work and, in withholding his name from it as librettist, "Donizetti or [his assistant]‌ Accursi may have thought that, lacking Ruffini's name, the authorship might as well be assigned to Accursi's initials as to a pseudonym".[3]
The opera was first performed on 3 January 1843 by the Théâtre-Italien at the Salle Ventadour in Paris with great success[4] and it is generally regarded as being the high point of the 19th century opera buffa tradition and, in fact, marking its ending,

Performance history
At its premiere Don Pasquale was performed by four of the most celebrated singers of the day[11] and was an immediate success.[12][13] It was recognized at the time as Donizetti's comic masterpiece[14] and, to this day, is still considered as such. Pasquale remains one of the most popular of his 66 operas,[15] as well as being one of the three most popular Italian comic operas, the others being Rossini's The Barber of Seville and Donizetti's own L'elisir d'amore.[16]
The first performance in Italy was at La Scala, Milan on 17 April 1843 with Ottavia Malvani (Norina), Napoleone Rossi (Pasquale), Leone Corelli (Ernesto), and Achille De Bassini(Malatesta). Its first performance in Vienna was at the Kärtnertortheater (in Italian) on 14 May 1843, a production in which Donizetti participated and added the comic baritone duet "Cheti, cheti, immantinente" from a discarded portion of his unperformed opera L'ange de Nisida.[17] In England it was first presented on 29 June 1843 at Her Majesty's Theatre in London (in Italian).[15]
The opera was translated into French by Gustave Vaëz and Alphonse Royer[18] and given in Brussels on 11 August 1843, Lille on 9 November 1843, and at the Théâtre d'Orléans in New Orleans on 7 January 1845.[15][19] The first Australian performance was presented in Sydney on 12 October 1854 at the Royal Victoria Theatre.
In the years since World War II, the opera has been given frequently. Specifically, as is noted on Operabase, since January 2012 it has been given 401 performances of 75 productions in 66 cities[20] and, therefore, it can be regarded as being part of the standard repertoire.
At its premiere Don Pasquale was performed by four of the most celebrated singers of the day[11] and was an immediate success.[12][13] It was recognized at the time as Donizetti's comic masterpiece[14] and, to this day, is still considered as such. Pasquale remains one of the most popular of his 66 operas,[15] as well as being one of the three most popular Italian comic operas, the others being Rossini's The Barber of Seville and Donizetti's own L'elisir d'amore.[16]
The first performance in Italy was at La Scala, Milan on 17 April 1843 with Ottavia Malvani (Norina), Napoleone Rossi (Pasquale), Leone Corelli (Ernesto), and Achille De Bassini(Malatesta). Its first performance in Vienna was at the Kärtnertortheater (in Italian) on 14 May 1843, a production in which Donizetti participated and added the comic baritone duet "Cheti, cheti, immantinente" from a discarded portion of his unperformed opera L'ange de Nisida.[17] In England it was first presented on 29 June 1843 at Her Majesty's Theatre in London (in Italian).[15]
The opera was translated into French by Gustave Vaëz and Alphonse Royer[18] and given in Brussels on 11 August 1843, Lille on 9 November 1843, and at the Théâtre d'Orléans in New Orleans on 7 January 1845.[15][19] The first Australian performance was presented in Sydney on 12 October 1854 at