Donizetti’s opera buffa Don Pasquale opened in Paris in 1843, with a libretto mainly by Giovanni Ruffini, as well as the Composer himself.  There have been many recordings of this opera, particularly more recently under the batons of Muti, Abbado, Santi and Levine, with artists such as Freni, Nucci, Bruson, Kunde, Raimondi, Florez and Netrebko taking the lead roles.