Don Pasquale, an old greybeard, decides to take a wife in order to overturn his nephew Ernesto’s plans. Ernesto, however, with the help of Doctor Malatesta, undertakes to ensnare Don Pasquale in the meshes of his own trap, entrusting the role of bride-to-be to Norina, his own betrothed. Docile, then intractable, Norina excels in playing at false appearances.The conflict between the two generations smoulders and stokes the comedy whilst producing an undercurrent of wistful yearning.With sincerity and dramatic profundity, Damiano Michieletto opens a pathway to the heart of an apparently light-hearted work, renowned as the apotheosis of opera buffa. The Paris Opera Orchestra and ChorusA co-production of the Opéra national de Paris and La Belle Télé With the participation of France Télévisions, the support of the Orange Foundation, patron of the Paris Opera's audiovisual broadcasts and the Centre National du Cinéma et de l'image animée.Director: Vincent Massip © Opéra national de Paris – La Belle Télé – 2018Picture: © Vincent Pontet / OnP

Don Pasquale: A rich old bachelor who decides to marry at the last minute in order to deprive his nephew of his inheritance. Ernesto: Don Pasquale’s nephew who is in love with Norina. Norina: A penniless young woman who, under the pseudonym of Sofronia, pretends to be Don Pasquale’s wife. Doctor Malatesta: A friend of the family and an ally of Ernesto and Norina, he is the mastermind of the plan to fool Don Pasquale.

Don Pasquale

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Don Pasquale, an old greybeard, decides to take a wife in order to overturn his nephew Ernesto’s plans. Ernesto, however, with the help of Doctor Malatesta, undertakes to ensnare Don Pasquale in the meshes of his own trap, entrusting the role of brid

Gaetano Donizetti

"To sharpen the mind of the most doleful of women and suddenly make her shrewd, all it takes is to lock her away and the deed is done." - Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Act I, scene 11 “The Barber is one of the century's masterpieces”. These words were written by the very Berlioz who in his youth had denounced not only Rossini, but also the “fanaticism he aroused in the fashionable circles of Paris”. Accordingly, the compliment, “repeated until exhaustion” – the composer's own words – is all the greater. The work was so “brilliant” and “so finely orchestrated” that the “dilettanti of Rome”, enraged by the “slightest unforeseen innovation in melody, harmony, rhythm or instrumentation were ready to kill the young maestro”. Il Barbiere di Siviglia has been performed continually since its turbulent premiere on February 16th 1816. The composer's opera buffa transcends the spirit of Beaumarchais’ comedy and combines the absurd with a touch of satirical realism in a score where rhythm and virtuosity place the comic effects in an ongoing dramatic narration. As a result, the characters – Rosina in particular – gain a new degree of realism and break with the usual archetypes. Damiano Michieletto’s giddying production embraces this perpetual motion and carries in its wake the happy couple formed by René Barbera and Karine Deshayes. Paris Opera Orchestra and Chorus A co-production of the Paris National Opera and A Prime Group, with the participation of France Télévisions, with the support of the Orange Foundation, patron of the Paris National Opera's audiovisual broadcasts, and the Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée. Director : François Goetghebeur © Opéra national de Paris - A Prime Group - France 2015 Picture: © Bernard Coutant / OnP

<ul><li>Count Almaviva: A young Spanish nobleman in love with Rosina</li><li>Bartolo: An old greybeard who is Rosina’s guardian</li><li>Rosina: Bartolo’s ward</li><li>Figaro: Bartolo’s barber, formerly in the service of Count Almaviva</li><li>Don Basilio: Rosina’s music teacher</li><li>Fiorello: The Count’s servant</li><li>Bertha: Bartolo’s old maid&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul>

Barbier de Séville

Il Barbiere di Siviglia

"To sharpen the mind of the most doleful of women and suddenly make her shrewd, all it takes is to lock her away and the deed is done." - Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Act I, scene 11“The Barber is one of the century's masterpieces”. These words were writ

Gioacchino Rossini

Lightning streaks through the skies as Dalila declares her love to Samson in one of the finest arias of romantic opera. “My heart awakens to your voice like a flower to the kiss of dawn.” An enchanting yet treacherous beauty… When the thunder at last rumbles, Dalila betrays Samson and offers him up to his enemies: “Come up, for this time he has shown me all his heart”, she whispers to them in the night (The Old Testament, Book of Judges).Based on a violent and erotic biblical story, Saint-Saëns’s opera – composed in 1877, much to Liszt’s insistence – would not be performed at the Palais Garnier until fifteen years later. This first Parisian performance in 1892 included the hitherto unperformed “Dance Of The Priestesses”. Nevertheless, it became one of the most performed French operas in the world, together with Faust and Carmen.Conducted by Philippe Jordan, this new production brings back a repertoire masterpiece that has not been performed at the Paris Opera for twenty-five years.Ever sensational as a femme fatale, Anita Rachvelishvili plays the murderous Priestess in a production staged by Damiano Michieletto. The Paris Opera Orchestra and Chorus A coproduction with the Metropolitan Opera, New YorkA co-production of the Paris Opera and Telmondis With the participation of ARTE France, with the support of the Orange Foundation, patron of the Paris Opera's audiovisual broadcasts, and with the assistance of the Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée.Director: François-René Martin © Opéra national de Paris - Telmondis - 2016Picture: © Vincent Pontet / OnP

<ul><li>Dalila: A Philistine seeking revenge on Samson</li><li>Samson: A brave Hebrew, famous for his strength, leader of his people</li><li>The High Priest of dagon: High Priest of the Philistines</li><li>Abimelech: Satrap of Gaza, the administrative governor</li><li>An old Hebrew</li><li>A Philistine messenger</li><li>Two Philistines</li></ul>

Samson et Dalila

Lightning streaks through the skies as Dalila declares her love to Samson in one of the finest arias of romantic opera. “My heart awakens to your voice like a flower to the kiss of dawn.” An enchanting yet treacherous beauty… When the thunder at last