Soprano Kelli-Ann Masterson chats about the rehearsal process involved in Irish National Opera's new touring production of Donizetti's Don Pasquale, which begins an extended nationwide tour this weekend.
As I sit to write, we have just finished a busy four weeks rehearsing in Dublin for Don Pasquale with Irish National Opera. Our final rehearsal today was the sitzprobe (orchestra rehearsal) under the baton of Teresa Riveiro Bohm. This has always been my favourite rehearsal day as it's when you hear the music come together for the first time with the orchestra.
Next week we head to Letterkenny in Donegal for our week of technical rehearsals before opening Don Pasquale in An Grianán Theatre on Saturday 26th November. The opera will tour to Navan, Galway, Ennis, Dundalk, Kilkenny, Dún Laoghaire this year, and in February 2023 will travel to Bray, Waterford, Cork, Limerick and Tralee.
Watch: Meet the cast of Don Pasquale
We began rehearsals at the end of October and from the first rehearsal I knew that our director Orpha Phelan would push us all to our limits dramatically and physically in order to produce the best show possible. he rehearsal process has been exciting and challenging in equal measure, but there has always been good humour and fun in the room with my onstage colleagues, bass Graham Danby, baritone Ben McAteer, tenor Patrick Kabongo and mezzo soprano Leanne Fitzgerald. The five-piece ensemble chorus bring a huge energy to the story and enhance many of the comedic moments sprinkled throughout the staging.
Don Pasquale is a classic comedy with recognisable characters and features everything from wills and inheritance to shopping sprees, all in the midst of an obscure love triangle! Although it can be perceived as a nasty story with nasty characters, Donizetti's music is so exciting and fizzing with energy that you can’t help but get on board with these characters, warts and all! Through the music, they all become quite likeable and you can easily find charm in their flaws. The music in Don Pasquale is full of energy and instantly appealing. Each character gets a wonderful aria to showcase their personality, but the real excitement happens during the duets and ensembles.
Watch: Don Pasquale - Kelli-Ann Masterson performs So anch'io la virtù magica
As a lyric coloratura soprano, a role like Norina is a dream role for me. It has beautiful bel canto phrases paired with sparkling cabalettas, dramatic candenzas and florid passages. The character is so much fun to play as she’s vivacious, feisty and a bit naughty, but also has an elegance and charm to her that makes her so appealing. She also plays a character within the opera, and as a performer that allows you so much freedom to have fun. I am so excited to tour this production and bring it all over Ireland.
I’m a firm believer that opera is for everyone and I’m so happy that this production will be available in some more rural parts of Ireland as well as our cities. I think audiences will really enjoy how accessible the story is and the instant appeal of the music. Although it is in Italian, you will understand every nuance of the story and the comedy of the piece rings through.
Whether you are a regular opera goer or coming for the first time, I guarantee you’ll definitely enjoy Don Pasquale.
Don Pasquale at An Grianán Theatre on Saturday 26th November, and tours nationwide through February 2023 - find out more here.
