Mar 31 & Apr 3, 2012 @ 7:30pm
Orpheum Theatre 

Gaetano Donizetti’s DON PASQUALE brings the Opera Memphis 2011-2012 season to a close at the Orpheum Theatre. In the tradition of opera buffa, DON PASQUALE harks back to the stock characters of the commedia dell’arte. With a world-renowned artist roster new to the Opera Memphis stage, DON PASQUALE promises to be an unforgettable evening and a perfect date night.

Soprano Monica Yunus, who will sing the role of Norina, is a Metropolitan Opera regular who has performed in concert with Placido Domingo. The daughter of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus, Ms. Yunus is the Co-Director of Sing for Hope, a non-profit organization that mobilizes artists in volunteer service to benefit communities in need. For her contributions to the field of arts activism, Ms. Yunus has given special performances at The United Nations and the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit, and received a 2009 DOHA 21st Century Leader Award in the category of Outstanding Humanitarian. Stefano de Peppo (Don Pasquale) is one of opera’s busiest singing actors sought after for the Italian character bass parts in operas by Donizetti, Rossini, and Mozart. A native Italian, Mr. de Peppo began his musical career as a member of the Children's Chorus of Teatro alla Scala of Milan for seven years, after which he undertook vocal studies at Civic School of Music in Milan.

Rounding out the cast are baritone Matthew Worth, previously engaged at Santa Fe Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago and Brandon MacReynolds, whose credits include appearances with The Spoleto Festival, Florida Grand Opera and The Liederkranz Foundation.

Conductor Ari Pelto became Assistant Conductor of the Spoleto Festival USA at age 24, where he led symphonic and chamber orchestra programs to critical acclaim. Pelto is a regular guest conductor for the New York City Opera and works regularly at some of the country's most prestigious conservatories and young artists' programs, such as Wolf Trap Opera, San Francisco Opera, Manhattan School of Music, The Julliard School and Curtis Institute of Music. Stage Director Garnett Bruce, the newly named Artistic Advisor and Principal Stage Director for Opera Omaha whose credits include a collaboration with Peter Sellars for DOCTOR ATOMIC at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, makes his Opera Memphis debut. With substantial credits from leading national and international opera houses, Bruce serves on the directing faculties of the Aspen Music Festival and Peabody Conservatory.

Roman bachelor Don Pasquale, with the help of Dr. Malatesta, plans to marry in order to punish his rebellious nephew, Ernesto, by providing himself with an heir and cutting the young man off without a penny. Dr. Malatesta suggests as a bride his sister, who is actually Ernesto’s lover Norina in disguise. Norina plans to marry Pasquale in a mock ceremony and drive him to such desperation that he will be at the mercy of the lovers. Italian with English titles.