Michigan Opera Theatre Presents "The Elixir of Love"
Detroit, MI, March 06, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Sing Into Spring with Donizetti's Lighthearted Comedy
The Elixir of Love
March 27-April 4, 2009
At the Detroit Opera House
All New Production
Snap out of the winter doldrums and welcome spring with a lighthearted comedic opera sure to lift spirits! Michigan Opera Theatre begins its 2009 spring opera season, presenting an all-new production of the witty comic opera with an ingenious plot and charming music - Gaetano Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love. The opera will be presented in four performances at the Detroit Opera House March 27-April 4, 2009 along with a special matinee rehearsal showing on March 26, 2009. An opera in two acts, The Elixir of Love will be sung in Italian with English supertitle translations projected above the stage.
The cast of The Elixir of Love includes several returning MOT favorites, including Ailyn Perez (27, 28, 4), who made her debut in the fall 2007 production of The Marriage of Figaro, alternating in the role of Adina with Amanda Squitieri (29), who is making her MOT debut. Baritone Dalibor Jenis also returns to sing the role of Belcore, after making his highly-acclaimed Michigan Opera Theatre debut in the 2006 production of The Barber of Seville. Internationally renowned Turkish bass Burak Bilgili sings the role of Dulcamara as he returns to MOT for the first time since his performance in 2004 of Sparafucile in Rigoletto. Conductor Stephen Lord who made his debut in the 2004 production of The Magic Flute also returns to MOT to conduct the Michigan Opera Theatre orchestra.
Several exciting young artists will be making their Michigan Opera Theatre debuts in The Elixir of Love, including up-and-coming tenors alternating in the role of Nemorino: Stephen Costello (27, 28, 4), who recently performed the role of Christian in Cyrano at the Opera Company of Philadelphia, and Scott Ramsay (29), who was recently praised by the New York Times for his “impressive … bright-voiced tenor.” Stage director James Robinson, who is regarded as one of America’s most inventive and sough-after directors, will make his MOT debut directing The Elixir of Love. Costumes for this new production are designed by Tony-Award winning costume designer Martin Pakledinaz, with sets designed by Allen Moyer, who has designed numerous productions for opera and musical theater.
A charming comedy of sacrifice and the pursuit of true love, this new production of The Elixir of Love is set in the early 20th century Napa Valley. Nemorino, a peasant, is madly in love with Adina, a beautiful landowner, but Adina is engaged to the self-absorbed sergeant Belcore. When Dulcamara, the traveling salesman, passes into town, Nemorino purchases a bottle of love elixir, convinced it will make Adina fall in love with him. Unbeknownst to Nemorino, Dulcamara has actually given him a bottle of wine. The love elixir is not successful in winning Adina, so Nemorino joins the military and uses his signing bonus to purchase even more elixir. When Adina discovers the sacrifice Nemorino has made for her, she falls in love with him and breaks off her engagement with sergeant Belcore.
In composing The Elixir of Love, Donizetti displayed his flair for tuneful melodies and for molding his music into humorous characterizations. His lyrical aria “Una furtive lagrima” has long been a favorite of many famous tenors, including the great Enrico Caruso, Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and Rolando Villazon.
Tickets for Michigan Opera Theatre’s production of The Elixir of Love at the magnificent Detroit Opera House range from $29-$121. A special “insiders opera experience” dress rehearsal will be presented on March 26 at 1:30 p.m. which features reduced admission prices, an opportunity to meet the artists, and a tour of the Detroit Opera House for $5. Tickets for the “Insiders Opera Experience” are half off the regular price. Tickets for the dress rehearsal and performances are available at the Detroit Opera House ticket office (1526 Broadway, Detroit, 48226), by phone at (313) 237-SING (7464) and online at www.MichiganOpera.org. Tickets are also available at all TicketMaster outlets, by phone at (248) 645-6666 or online at www.TicketMaster.com.
Gaetano Donizetti’s
The Elixir of Love
Friday, March 27, 2009 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 28, 2009 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 29, 2009 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 4, 2009 7:30 p.m.
Michigan Opera Theatre, a non-profit organization, is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and provides programs and services without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, or handicap. Michigan Opera Theatre is supported by private donations, foundation and corporate grants, the State of Michigan through the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs, and by the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal Agency.
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The Elixir of Love
March 27-April 4, 2009
At the Detroit Opera House
All New Production
Snap out of the winter doldrums and welcome spring with a lighthearted comedic opera sure to lift spirits! Michigan Opera Theatre begins its 2009 spring opera season, presenting an all-new production of the witty comic opera with an ingenious plot and charming music - Gaetano Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love. The opera will be presented in four performances at the Detroit Opera House March 27-April 4, 2009 along with a special matinee rehearsal showing on March 26, 2009. An opera in two acts, The Elixir of Love will be sung in Italian with English supertitle translations projected above the stage.
The cast of The Elixir of Love includes several returning MOT favorites, including Ailyn Perez (27, 28, 4), who made her debut in the fall 2007 production of The Marriage of Figaro, alternating in the role of Adina with Amanda Squitieri (29), who is making her MOT debut. Baritone Dalibor Jenis also returns to sing the role of Belcore, after making his highly-acclaimed Michigan Opera Theatre debut in the 2006 production of The Barber of Seville. Internationally renowned Turkish bass Burak Bilgili sings the role of Dulcamara as he returns to MOT for the first time since his performance in 2004 of Sparafucile in Rigoletto. Conductor Stephen Lord who made his debut in the 2004 production of The Magic Flute also returns to MOT to conduct the Michigan Opera Theatre orchestra.
Several exciting young artists will be making their Michigan Opera Theatre debuts in The Elixir of Love, including up-and-coming tenors alternating in the role of Nemorino: Stephen Costello (27, 28, 4), who recently performed the role of Christian in Cyrano at the Opera Company of Philadelphia, and Scott Ramsay (29), who was recently praised by the New York Times for his “impressive … bright-voiced tenor.” Stage director James Robinson, who is regarded as one of America’s most inventive and sough-after directors, will make his MOT debut directing The Elixir of Love. Costumes for this new production are designed by Tony-Award winning costume designer Martin Pakledinaz, with sets designed by Allen Moyer, who has designed numerous productions for opera and musical theater.
A charming comedy of sacrifice and the pursuit of true love, this new production of The Elixir of Love is set in the early 20th century Napa Valley. Nemorino, a peasant, is madly in love with Adina, a beautiful landowner, but Adina is engaged to the self-absorbed sergeant Belcore. When Dulcamara, the traveling salesman, passes into town, Nemorino purchases a bottle of love elixir, convinced it will make Adina fall in love with him. Unbeknownst to Nemorino, Dulcamara has actually given him a bottle of wine. The love elixir is not successful in winning Adina, so Nemorino joins the military and uses his signing bonus to purchase even more elixir. When Adina discovers the sacrifice Nemorino has made for her, she falls in love with him and breaks off her engagement with sergeant Belcore.
In composing The Elixir of Love, Donizetti displayed his flair for tuneful melodies and for molding his music into humorous characterizations. His lyrical aria “Una furtive lagrima” has long been a favorite of many famous tenors, including the great Enrico Caruso, Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and Rolando Villazon.
Tickets for Michigan Opera Theatre’s production of The Elixir of Love at the magnificent Detroit Opera House range from $29-$121. A special “insiders opera experience” dress rehearsal will be presented on March 26 at 1:30 p.m. which features reduced admission prices, an opportunity to meet the artists, and a tour of the Detroit Opera House for $5. Tickets for the “Insiders Opera Experience” are half off the regular price. Tickets for the dress rehearsal and performances are available at the Detroit Opera House ticket office (1526 Broadway, Detroit, 48226), by phone at (313) 237-SING (7464) and online at www.MichiganOpera.org. Tickets are also available at all TicketMaster outlets, by phone at (248) 645-6666 or online at www.TicketMaster.com.
Gaetano Donizetti’s
The Elixir of Love
Friday, March 27, 2009 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 28, 2009 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 29, 2009 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 4, 2009 7:30 p.m.
Michigan Opera Theatre, a non-profit organization, is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and provides programs and services without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, or handicap. Michigan Opera Theatre is supported by private donations, foundation and corporate grants, the State of Michigan through the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs, and by the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal Agency.
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Contact
Michigan Opera Theatre
Rebekah Johnson
313-961-3500
www.michiganopera.org
Rebekah Johnson
313-961-3500
www.michiganopera.org
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