Opera Scotland

Don Pasquale in Scotland

Posted 15 Aug 2024

The first performance in Scotland of Don Pasquale took place on 26 September 1849 at the old Glasgow Theatre Royal in Dunlop Street. It was given by a visiting Italian company with Signor Bailini in the title role.  It reached Edinburgh on 8 February 1856 at the Theatre Royal, Shakespeare Square (at the top of Leith Walk) where it was given by Mr Beale's Italian touring company.

By then some of the music was quite widely known. Earlier, on 10 September 1847, Ernesto's Act III Serenade had been sung at an Edinburgh concert by Giovanni Mario, the most famous tenor of the age. Mario had created the role in Paris and also sang it in London.

Performances by other companies remained rare until quite recently, but include the Carl Rosa Opera in 1927, visiting both Edinburgh and Glasgow.  The conductor was Thomas McGuire with Kingsley Lark (Pasquale), Hubert Dunkerley (Malatesta), Ben Williams (Ernesto) and Pauline Bindley (Norina).  Sadler's Wells Opera brought Don Pasquale on tour in 1963.  Pasquale was sung by Howell Glynne, with John Heddle Nash (Malatesta), Jenifer Eddy (Norina) and Louis Browne (Ernesto).  The conductor was Brian Priestman.

The opera has been presented at only one Edinburgh International Festival. That was in 1963, when the San Carlo company from Naples brought a staging by the star Neapolitan comedian and playwright Eduardo de Filippo, in designs by Ezio Frigerio.  The title role was taken by the Swiss bass Fernando Corena, and that strong cast also included Alfredo Kraus as Ernesto, Renato Capecchi as Malatesta and Gianna d'Angelo as Norina.  The conductor was Alberto Erede.

In 2010, English Touring Opera brought Pasquale to the Perth Festival, with Keel Watson in the title role. Nicholas Sharratt, most recently seen as Frederic in Scottish Opera's The Pirates of Penzance, sang Ernesto.

Scottish Opera has mounted four productions. The first was a piano-accompanied tour in 1969 and 1970, which was seen throughout Britain. The title role was played by Norman White, the fondly remembered bass who made over 1000 appearances with the company.

In 1972, Peter Ebert directed a full staging with Michael Langdon as Pasquale, conducted by Alexander Gibson. Sheila Armstrong made her company debut as Norina, with John Robertson (Ernesto) and Thomas Hemsley (Malatesta). Later revivals featured Margaret Neville and Patricia Hay as Norina, with Alexander Oliver and Graham Clark as Ernesto and Gordon Sandison (Malatesta). Langdon always returned as Don Pasquale, except for two performances taken by Norman White, who otherwise sang a distinctly flashy and untrustworthy-looking lawyer.

The Company's next production, in 1999, was again a nationwide piano-accompanied tour. This was notable for the directorial debut of mezzo-soprano Cynthia Buchan, and for the Ernesto - the only operatic role sung to date with Scottish Opera by Alfie Boe. Richard Lloyd Morgan played the title role.

The current staging by Renaud Doucet. designed by André Barbe, was launched in 2014.  Francesco Corti conducted a cast led by Alfonso Antoniozzi (Pasquale), with Aldo di Toro (Ernesto), Nicholas Lester (Malatesta) and Ruth Jenkins-Róbertsson (Norina).