“Wonderful elixir! Thou art mine! Oh, why cannot I enjoy its effects immediately?” so says the lovesick peasant Nemorino. Yet this elixir of love is hardly a perfect love potion for Valentine’s Day. Instead, it is a scam whereby the scamp Dr. Dulcamara, knowing Nemorino’s desperate attempts to capture the noble lady Adina‘s heart, tricks him into thinking that he is buying and drinking a love potion which is, in fact, no more than cheap Bordeaux. Comments Dulcamara: “In my travels I’ve seen many
fools of every sort and size, but of all the fools the biggest now he stands before my eyes!”
The Virginia Opera’s “The Elixir of Love” is an excellent introduction to this opera for those new to it and a loyal production for those who are already enthralled by the opera’s infectious humor.
“The Elixir of Love” by Gaetano Donzetti, performed by the Virginia Opera at George Mason Centre for the Performing Arts, does justice to the light yet very human plot hinted at above. The Norfolk-based Virginia Opera provides a good introduction to one of the most widely performed of operas. Recently performed in Norfolk and at George Mason, the opera is headed to Richmond for a final weekend.
The curtain opens to reveal a magnificent set – an enormous golden picture frame through which we see an idyllic Italy with pastoral landscapes, vines and arbors, and happy-go-lucky peasants, bantering at ease with lovely Adina, played in expressive gesture and wonderful voice throughout by Cecilia Violetta Lopez. She excels especially in “Chiedi all’aura lusinghiera” (Go, demand of yon light zephyr). Nemorino is played adroitly by Carlos Enrique Santelli, who does justice in pathos and vocal power to the opera’s standout aria — “Una furtiva lagrima” (A furtive tear). This calls for a talented performer as Nemorino, for this moment shifts tone dramatically and for a moment the mood of this comic “buffo” opera turns somber.
The standout performer at least in terms of personality is Matthew Burns as Dr. Dulcamara. He bandies about the stage, performing magic tricks with fire, laughing and strutting with pride, and creating an infectious character, though he is a conman. He even convinces us he could actually ride off, “Wizard-of-Oz”-like, in a hot air balloon, though the balloon itself is suggested only by shadow and a prop we are not sure a human being could ride. A few words must be said about Corey Crider as Nemorino’s rival-in-love Sergeant Belcore. Crider presents the caricature of a braggart to a “t” and is entertaining every moment on stage, as he, too, deceives Nemorino – not into buying a fake love potion, but into enlisting in the military.
The cast as a whole conveys the spirit of confusion and farce as it begins to look like the elixir of love is working after all: women from all over the village suddenly flock to Nemorino, the proud Adina becomes jealous, and the trickster Dulcemara begins to think that he has unknowingly concocted a love potion after all!
The Virginia Opera offers an excellent introduction to the spirit, fun, and music of this great work. It is assisted to no small extent by an orchestra conducted by Adam Turner, which brings out the spirited “Italian sound” of Donizetti’s music as well as his soaring strings. Kyle Lang’s direction is very refined, and the scenic design of Eduardo Sicango is, quite literally, golden, reflecting Italy’s artistic tradition and warm sunrays. The soundmix and use and space of props were all superb in the production at George Mason this reviewer witnessed, though such aspects might vary with the size of the stage and theatre in which this production is performed.
The Virginia Opera’s “The Elixir of Love” is an excellent introduction to this opera for those new to it and a loyal production for those who are already enthralled by the opera’s infectious humor.
Running Time: 2 hours and 45 minutes with a 25 minute intermission.
“The Elixir of Love” will tour to Richmond for its final two performances on Friday, February 22, and Sunday, Feb 24. A pre-opera talk 45 minutes before the opera by Dr. Glenn Winters, VA Opera’s Community Outreach and Musical Director. Visit online for more information.
