Date: Apr 29, 2010

The Bronx Opera Company Presents Gaetano Donizetti's "Don Pasquale"

May 14 and 15, 2010, at Hofstra University's John Cranford Adams Playhouse

A Fully-Staged Production, Performed in English, Accompanied by a 30-Piece Orchestra
Michael Spierman, Artistic Director; Royston Coppenger, Stage Director
Introduce Your Children to Opera – One Child Under 12 Free when Accompanied by a Full-Price Ticket

Hempstead, NY … The Hofstra Cultural Center presents The Bronx Opera Company performance of Gaetano Donizetti’s comic opera Don Pasquale, Friday, May 14, at 8 p.m., and Saturday, May 15, at 2 p.m., at Hofstra University’s John Cranford Adams Playhouse. The opera will be fully-staged, performed in English, accompanied by a 30-piece orchestra.

Tickets are $30, $25 for senior citizens (over 65 with ID), $10 for students (with ID). A child under 12 gets in FREE with one full-price paid adult ticket. Hofstra faculty and staff may pay $20 each for up to two tickets and Hofstra students may pay $10 for up to two tickets upon presentation of a current HofstraCard.

For tickets or more information call the Hofstra Box Office at (516) 463-6644, Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

About Don Pasquale

Don Pasquale is a wealthy, and lonely, old man who has decided to disinherit his nephew, Ernesto, because he disapproves of the young man’s desire to marry the young, penniless widow Norina. Pasquale decides to marry and produce his own heirs and asks his friend Dr. Malatesta to find a suitable woman. Malatesta cooks up a scheme to hoodwink Pasquale and clear the way for the young lovers’ happiness: he will present Norina as his shy convent-bred sister “Sofronia” and trick the old man into a sham marriage. Pasquale is quickly infatuated with the disguised Norina and the marriage (with a fake Notary) is concluded. Immediately Norina/Sofronia turns into a horrible shrew, spending money left and right and making Pasquale’s life miserable. According to plan, she makes Pasquale’s life so miserable that he ultimately agrees to let Ernesto marry Norina in order to spite “Sofronia”. When he learns that his supposed wife was actually his nephew’s intended, Pasquale realizes his own foolishness and gives the young couple his blessing.

About The Bronx Opera Company

The Bronx Opera Company enjoys a distinguished reputation as a developer of outstanding professional operatic talent who come to New York from all parts of the United States and abroad. All productions are sung in English with full orchestra and chorus. Its repertoire has included well-known works such as Carmen, The Merry Widow and Don Giovanni, as well as important American or New York premieres of operas such as Smetana’s The Secret, Vaughan Williams’ Hugh the Drover, and Kirke Mechem’s Tartuffe. The company also presents concerts and special events throughout the year in the Bronx and surrounding areas from Long Island to Sullivan County. Its active public school program promotes a greater understanding of opera among students from elementary grades through high school. It is the company’s aim to introduce the operatic experience to those who are unfamiliar with it, while providing a meaningful opportunity for outstanding performers to further their promising careers.

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