MUSIC AND DANCE REVIEWS : New Pasquale Closes Donizetti Opera

The balance toward the character again tipped toward restraint and sympathy when Michael Gallup took over the title role in the final performance of Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale” by the Los Angeles Music Center Opera on Saturday in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

Instead of a buffo caricature or monster, Gallup enacted an appealing if gullible and self-led dupe, a man more sinned against than sinning and rather dubiously meriting the harsh treatment ahead.

Nonetheless, Gallup did portray the character in somewhat broader strokes than did his predecessor in the role. There was more reliance upon sight jokes--wide-eyed and rubbery-faced expressions, turns to the audience and petulant or expectant foot stomps. As a result, the critical slap Pasquale received from Norina emerged as a moment more of humor than of poignancy.

Vocally, Gallup began with rich charcoal tone, but the plush tended to wear a bit thin and grayness to emerge in the course of the afternoon. Still, he varied his vocalism effectively to make comedic points, whether introducing a slight sneer early on when singing of his recalcitrant nephew or employing a nasalized caricature when dueling with his apparent wife. Further, his rapid patter in the famous comic duet with Malatesta was clear, strong and precise.

The rest of the cast was previously reviewed. Evelino Pido again conducted superbly.