Don Pasquale (1998)

Don Pasquale, an old bachelor, is furious because his nephew Ernesto refuses to marry the woman he has picked out for him. Ernesto is madly in love with Norina, a vivacious young widow, and vows to marry only her. Pasquale himself decides to marry in order to cut the young man off from his inheritance. Dr. Malatesta, a family friend, suggests as a bride his beautiful, young, convent-bred sister, Sophronia. Pasquale, thrilled, banishes his nephew from the house, leaving Ernesto appalled that his friend Malatesta would so betray him.

Just as Norina receives a despairing note of farewell from Ernesto, Malatesta arrives to engage her in his scheme to outwit Pasquale. She is to impersonate his virtuous sister, go through a mock wedding ceremony with Pasquale, then turn around and drive him mad with outlandish demands. Norina delightedly agrees.

While Ernesto grieves at the loss of Norina, Pasquale preens himself for his meeting with “Sophronia.” Her modesty so enchants him at their first encounter that he agrees to marry her at once. A “notary” (actually Malatesta’s cousin) is called in to perform the ceremony. Ernesto enters to find that he is seemingly betrayed by Norina but Malatesta convinces him to play along. Immediately after the “ceremony,” the new “bride” is transformed from humble country girl to extravagant and demanding shrew — much to Pasquale’s dismay.

Pasquale is distraught at his new bride’s expensive purchases and her restructuring of the household. On her way to the theater (unescorted by her husband) she drops a note by which Pasquale discovers she is planning to meet a secret lover in the garden that night. Malatesta tells Ernesto to promise to be there and then assures Pasquale that they will trap the lovers in their rendezvous. Ernesto and Norina meet in the garden and declare their love; they are discovered by Pasquale and Malatesta, and the subterfuge is revealed. Pasquale is so relieved to be rid of “Sophronia” and her extravagance that he happily gives the young couple his blessing.