Pompano Beach Cultural Center/ Opera Fusion Presents Comic Opera Don PASQUALE

Opera Fusion is delighted to announce a special one night only performance of Gaetano Donizetti's comic masterpiece Don Pasquale at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center on February 16, 2019 at 7:30 pm. This rambunctious romp, a co-production of Opera Fusion and Gulfshore Opera, is fully staged in two acts and accompanied by a chamber orchestra. The production stars South Florida coloratura soprano Laura León as Norina, American bass Tony Dillon as Don Pasquale and tenor Zackery Morris, as Ernesto. Tickets are $25-45, with $10 student tickets. For more information www.ccpompano.org or call 954-545-7800.

"We are thrilled to bring this energetic young cast to the Pompano Beach Cultural Center for this charming production of Don Pasquale," said Birgit Djupedal Fioravante, Executive Director, Opera Fusion. "This opera is a bubbly treat with lots of humor and an effervescent score. Long time opera fans and first-timers will both adore this lovely production."

The opera, set in Rome in the mid-19th century, is widely regarded as a comic masterpiece of the period. It premiered in Paris in 1843 to great acclaim and was quickly produced across the great opera houses of Europe. The characters derive from types that were common in the many comic operas of the period: a clever leading lady, her winsome admirer, an old buffoon who hopes to outwit them, and a conniving fellow who takes the side of the young lovers.

Acclaimed South Florida coloratura soprano Laura León, a native of Cuba, covered the role of Norina for Florida Grand Opera, where she was a Resident Artist from 2015-2017. Late last year, she received critical acclaim for singing all four heroines in Tales of Hoffman with Opera Orlando. She also recently performed the role of Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute with Orchestra Miami.

Tony Dillon's vocal and dramatic versatility as an American bass has been commended throughout the United States, Russia and Central America. His repertoire of more than 70 operatic roles range from the works of Peri and Cavalli to premiering the operas and song cycles of Earnest, Mlyn, Fink and others. He has performed under the baton of Yves Abel, Scott Bergeson, Leonard Bernstein, Anton Coppola, Sir Colin Davis and Kent Nagano. A former recipient of the Opera Renaissance Award, he has appeared with the Washington National Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Seattle Opera, New York City Opera National Company, Glimmerglass Opera, Glyndebourne Festival, Cleveland Opera, Michigan Opera Theater, Austin Lyric Opera and various regional companies.

Don Pasquale's Music director is Gregory Ritchey and the stage director and set and lighting designer is Ardean Landhuis.

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