Don Pasquale, regarded as one of the crowning gems of comic opera, had its first performance on January 3, 1843 by the Theatre-Italien at the Salle Ventadour in Paris.  Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848) completed it in the astonishingly short span of two months.  The final success of his career, it quickly achieved popularity across Europe.  The overture is unusual for Donizetti in that it introduces thematic material heard in the opera, such as the beloved aria Com’e Gentil. Instrumentation: 1+Picc.2.2.2: 4.2.3.0: Timp.Perc(1): Str (9-8-7-6-5 in set). Reprint edition.