The Dallas Opera sticks to tradition, a fact most recently evidenced in the company’s announcement of the 2010-11 season, which includes only the classics.
 

Over the past several weeks, the Opera has performed both Mozart’s “Cosi Fan Tutte” and Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale.”
 

Showings of “Cosi Fan Tutte” concluded with a matinee performance Sunday, but opera-lovers still have two chances to see “Don Pasquale” at the Bill and Margot Winspear Opera House.
 

“Don Pasquale” is a sophisticated comedy that tells the tale of two young lovers and their attempt to teach elderly bachelor Don Pasquale the joys, or rather woes, of marriage.
After refusing to consent to his nephew Ernesto’s marriage to his love Norina, loyal friend Dr. Malatesta and Norina plot their revenge.
 

Norina poses as Sofronia, a young convent girl willing to marry Don Pasquale.
 

Although the Don jumps at the opportunity, he almost immediately regrets his decision.
Upon Ernesto, Malatesta and Norina’s revelation of their scheme, Don Pasquale happily consents to the union of the two young lovers and is more than relieved to be free of his conjugal ties.
 

Donizetti’s charming score lends the opera an aura of frivolity, and the performers in the Dallas Opera production are masters of comedy.
 

Donato DiStefano as the unfortunate Don Pasquale is brilliant.
 

Both he and the gorgeous and riotously funny Adriana Kucerova elicited peals of laughter from the nearly full house.
 

Their characters were more than adequately supported by baritone Nathan Gunn as Dr. Malatesta, and tenor Norman Shankle, in his Dallas Opera debut, as Ernesto.
 

The sets were very traditional, in line, so it would seem, with the rest of the Dallas Opera initiatives, and had been designed for a previous performance of the opera by legendary set designer Jean-Pierre Ponnelle.
 

Despite their age, the sets are in good condition, and lend character to the opera’s mid 18th century setting.
 

Graeme Jenkins, the Opera’s music director, is disappointingly absent from “Don Pasquale” and guest conductor Stefano Ranzani leads the orchestra.
 

Overall the Dallas Opera’s production of “Don Pasquale” does not disappoint.
 

The last two performances of “Don Pasquale” will take place March 5 and 7.
 

Student rush tickets are $25 starting an hour and a half before the performance.