Gaetano Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore comes to Oman

Muscat: Filled with light-hearted charm and humour, “The Elixir of Love” delights audiences with effervescent Italian melodies and brilliant bel canto arias featuring plenty of vocal fireworks.
“L’Elisir d’Amore”, which premiered in Milan in 1832, is Gaetano Donizetti’s most popular comic opera and one of the last in the golden era of Italian opera buffo (comic opera). It is also one of the most frequently performed operas in the Donizetti repertoire.
The strength of this well-loved opera lies in combining a touching love story and hilarious comedy with beautiful music, including the world famous aria, “Una furtiva lagrima (A furtive tear)”.
Nemorino, a poor peasant, is besotted with Adina, a beautiful and wealthy landowner who rejects his earnest declarations of love. Fortunately, a certain Dr Dulcamara is on hand with a love potion to help Nemorino win Adina’s heart.
Adina appears to be immune to the effects of Dulcamara’s potion on Nemorino and agrees to marry a self-important Sergeant. Nevertheless, over time, Adina, realizes she cares for Nemorino and, shedding the famous furtive tear, admits her love.
Meanwhile and unknown to the two lovers, Nemorina has unexpectedly inherited a fortune. The ending could not be happier. Everyone rejoices - and Dulcamara most of all, since the power of his love potion is proven.
This charming production is presented at the Royal Opera House Muscat by the iconic Teatro La Fenice of Venice, one of the most famous companies in the history of Italian theatre and renowned throughout Europe. True to its name of La Fenice, meaning The Phoenix, the Theatre has risen from the ashes after fires in 1774, 1836 and 1996. The Teatro Fenice Orchestra is conducted by the Donizetti expert and internationally acclaimed interpreter of bel canto, Fabrizio Maria Carminati. The lead singers, both reigning stars of the classic Italian repertoire - especially of the four great bel canto era composers - Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti, and Verdi - are Soprano, Rocio Ignacio, as Adina; and Tenor, Francesco Demuro, as Nemorino.
“L’Elisir d’Amore” will be performed at the Royal Opera House Muscat at 7.00 pm on three nights, the 17th, 19th and 20th of February, 2016 to meet the demand for this totally delightful comic opera.