Donizetti Don Pasquale opera to libretto by Giovanni Ruffini. Directed 2013 by Mariame Clément at Glyndebourne. Stars Alessandro Corbelli (Don Pasquale), Danielle de Niese (Norina), Nikolay Borchev (Malatesta), Alek Shrader (Ernesto), James Platt (Notary), and Anna-Marie Sullivan (Servant). Enrique Mazzola conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra (Leader Pieter Schoeman) and Glyndebourne Chorus (Chorus Master Jeremy Bines). Designs by Julia Hansen; lighting by Bernd Purkrabek. Directed for TV by Myriam Hoyer. Sung in Italian. Released 2014, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Mark Mandel in the November 2014 Opera News (page 60) says that director Mariame Clément presents this Don Pasquale "as if it were Dangerous Liaisons — dark, dour, disturbing." Inspired by the character's name, Clément turns Malestesta into a vile manipulator of the other characters (rather than a friendly agent who helps clueless Pasquale sort everything out.) Mandel concludes, "There seems to have been a desire to be different and edgy yet retain the traditional, entertaining opera buffa, but the result is [a] somewhat soured comedy with four not-very-likable characters." Mandel was also critical of all the singers but Corbelli.
Here's a nice clip:
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