Audiences will be transported from the cold of a Manchester winter’s evening to the sensual lavender fields of southern Italy when they step inside the Royal Northern College of Music this December.
RNCM Opera are staging the romantic opera, L’elisir d’amore at their home on Manchester’s Oxford Road and its tale of love, lust and deception, performed by an award-winning cast of soloists, should add a little heat to this chilly festive season.
The opera, whose title translates as The Elixir of Love is composer Donizetti’s first great comic opera and tells a tongue-in-cheek reinterpretation of the Tristan and Isolde myth.
Its director and RNCM Head of Opera, Stefan Janski, told MM: “L’elisir d’amore is a stimulating story of seduction, corruption, jealousy and love, complete with lively tunes that bubble, sparkle and fizz to an effervescent climax.
“It’s a great opera – two hours of escapism into the world of Donizetti.”
The production revolves around the colourful villagers led by the playful, provocative, and charismatic estate owner Adina, the love sick harvester Nemorino, and the spirited and flirtatious Giannetta.
Their lives are upturned by the arrival of the immodest womaniser Sergeant Belcore and the creative quack Doctor Dulcamara, who sets up a roaring trade selling potions to the villagers.
Nemorino, deeply in love with Adina buys a ‘love potion’ from Dulcamara, in an attempt to win her affections. Yet Adina actually falls for new arrival Sergeant Belcore. There ensues a lively tale of lust and desire, packed full with humour.
Award-winning New Zealand soprano Bryony Williams, 23, sings the role of Adina, while Chinese tenor Kang Wang is Nemorino, both of whom are launching their professional careers at the RNCM with this performance.
Conducted by Francesco Pasqualetti, they will take on some of Donizetti’s finest music, including Nemorino’s beautiful aria, ‘Una furtive lagrima’ and Adina’s ‘Prendi, prendi per me sei libero.’
L’elisir d’amore will be staged at the Royal Northern College of Music on Sunday December 8 Tuesday 10, Thursday 12 and Saturday December 14. Call the box office on 0161 907 5555 or visit www.rncm.ac.uk for tickets.
Image courtesy of Riki Andreas Pascual, with thanks
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