About this edition
Don Pasquale stands as Gaetano Donizetti's comic masterpiece, widely regarded as the last great opera buffa in the tradition Rossini had perfected a generation earlier. Written in three acts with astonishing speed late in the composer's career, it pairs sparkling melodic invention with a remarkably assured orchestral hand — nowhere more memorable than in Ernesto's serenade "Com'è gentil" and the breathless patter duet "Cheti, cheti immantinente" for baritone and bass. Nearly two centuries after its 1843 Paris premiere, it remains a cornerstone of the comic repertoire and a favorite vehicle for singers and orchestras alike.
This score reproduces the full orchestral edition issued by G. Ricordi of Milan, the storied publishing house that served as the principal home for Italian opera throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and held the rights to the bulk of Donizetti's catalogue. Engraved under plate number P.R. 36/126830, this edition dates from around 1920 and was reissued in 1961, representing a printing that generations of conductors and orchestras have relied upon as a standard reference score for staging Don Pasquale. Ricordi's central role in Italian opera publishing, and its long association with the composer's own theatrical world, make this an authoritative source for the opera's orchestral text.
About this edition:
- Full orchestral score
- Page size: 8.5 x 11 inches
- Reproduced from a historical public domain edition
- Published by Purple 4R Publishing
Because this historical score has entered the public domain, we're delighted to bring it back into print so today's musicians, students, and scholars can study and perform Don Pasquale from a beautifully reproduced, authoritative edition.
