Love is the drug for opera lovers
1 L’Elisir d’amore (The Elixir of Love)
In this 19th century comic opera, a poor and hapless young man attempts to win the hand of a small town beauty with the help of an elixir. L’Elisir d’amore premiered in 1832 in Milan and was set in the Basque Country. For its production, Vancouver Opera moves the setting to a Canadian locale in the early 1900s.
2 Gaetano Donizetti
The composer was a leading light of the bel canto opera style, and his L’Elisir d’amore is one of the best known operas of that era. It’s also one of the most performed of the nearly 70 operas that Donizetti wrote.
3 Felice Romani
Opera buffs of the time thought Romani to be one of the top librettists around. Apparently, Romani agreed — he believed his text for L’Elisir d’amore was so good that it didn’t need music.
4 Ying Fang
The Chinese soprano makes her Vancouver Opera debut as Adina, the town beauty (who also happens to be rich and witty). She also performs in Voices of the Pacific Rim (Jan. 23, 7 p.m., Queen Elizabeth Theatre), a Vancouver Opera fundraiser that features world-renowned artists from China, Japan, Korea, Canada and the United States.
5 Andrew Haji
The tenor makes his Vancouver Opera debut as Nemorino, the sweet and naive labourer who pines for Adina. Other Canadian talent includes bass-baritone Stephen Hegedus as love elixir salesman Dulcamara, and baritone Brett Polegato, who sings the part of Belcore, Nemorino’s rival for Adina’s affections.