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| Matthew Avery (Dr Dulcamara) - Daniel Verschuer (Nemorino) - Sarah Darnley-Stuart (Adina) - Elsa Huber (Gianetta) - Sitiveni Talei (Belcore) - Chorus and Orchestra performing National Opera's "The Elixir of Love" |
Peter Coleman-Wright’s Pocket Opera adaptation of the tuneful Donizetti opera, “The Elixir of Love”, is the most ambitious of these productions yet presented by National Opera, and arguably the most successful.
Introduced
by Coleman-Wright to provide an opportunity for emerging opera singers to study
and perform the popular opera repertoire, these condensed versions include all
the best bits, and also some of the lesser-known sections which also contain
beautiful music.
“The Elixir
of Love” is perfect for this purpose. Its story could be taken as a veiled
warning to young gentlemen about the dangers of drinking, but more importantly
the opera contains five demanding principal roles and requires a large
chorus. It is also packed full of lovely
melodies, the most the most famous of which is the lovely “Una furtive lagrima”
(A Furtive Tear).
The story
concerns a young farmhand, Nemorino, who’s in love with pretty village maiden,
Adina. The local police sergeant, Belcore, also has his eye on Adina. So when a
wily traveling salesman, Dr Dulcamara offers Nemorino a potion (which is really
only some local wine with flavouring) and assures the gullible lad that it will
make him irresistible to Adina, what do you think will be the result? If you
can’t work it out, you’d better see the opera.
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| Daniel Verschuer (Nemorino) - Sarah Darnley-Stuart (Adina) in a moment in "The Elixir of Love" |
In the
central role as the gullible Nemorino, Daniel Vershuer impressed with his clear
ringing tenor, excellent diction and stage presence. He was well matched by the
well-sung, confident performance of soprano, Sarah Darnley-Stuart, as Adina, who
charmed with her responses to her complicated predicament.
As Nemorino’s
rival for the hand of Adina, Sitiveni Talei was a dominate figure, delighting
with his large presence, his rich bass baritone and his impish sense of comedy.
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| Sitiveni Talei (Belcore) - Sarah Darnley-Stuart (Adina) - Elsa Huber (Gianetta) in a moment from "The Elixir of Love" |
Recent ANU
School of Music graduate, Elsa Huber, as Adina’s friend, Gianetta, offered a
spirited, eye-catching interpretation of the role, which stamped her as a
singer to watch.
The
excellent work of Chorus Master, Louis Sharpe, was obvious in the excellently
balanced singing of the large chorus. However, accommodating them, as well as
the principals, on the small stage at the Albert Hall, provided director,
Ylaria Rogers, with some significant challenges, most of which were overcome
with sensible decisions which allowed the mischievous fun which permeates the
opera to shine through.
In addition
to the excellent performances by the singers, a particular pleasure of this
production was the joyous orchestral accompaniment provided by the Canberra
Sinfonia, under the deft conducting of Leonard Weiss, who not only insured a
superbly nuanced performance by the ensemble, but at one stage even left the
podium to play harp for the beautiful “Una furtiva lagrima” .
Images by Peter Hislop
This review first published in the digital edition of CITY NEWS on 10th May 2023
