Donizetti opera given an all-action revision
Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore was making its second appearance in the Met HD Live series at Perth Playhouse on February 10.
Then it had been a slightly aloof Anna Netrebko as Adina and the Nemorino was the same Matthew Polenzani, four-and-a-half years younger.
But the differences were huge. Whoever had re-staged the opera had given it much more movement and action then the cozy Bartlett Sher original.
But more important than that were the characters of the principals: the live wire of the South African-born Pretty Yende and, as he said in his interval interview, Matthew Polenzani still of the fine voice, but bringing so much more character to the role of Nemorino.
Pretty Yende was vivacity itself, but with sensitivity for Nemorimo added from when he is pushed around by the braggart soldiers, an early reveal of her final change.
Her coloratura in Act Two was fearless, the duet with Dulcamara a joyous highlight.
Her interaction with others brought a constantly renewed delight.
Given the most famous aria in Una furtive lagrima, Matthew Polenzani succeeded too in making Nemorino more interesting, less a stock oaf.
As well as a fine voice Davide Luciano made the arrogant soldier Belcore more interesting. Ildebrando d’Arcangelo as the quack Dulcamara, the Elixir of Love is only a bottle of wine, had the timing, the voice and the facial expressions to make the most of his role.
A prime mover was Venezuelan conductor Domingo Hindoyan making his Met debut.
With the fantastic Met Orchestra the opera zipped along, never sagging for a moment, even Una furtive lagrima not over indulgent.
Next up for the Met: Puccini’s La Bohème, on Saturday, February 24 at 5.30pm. Matthew Polenzani as Nemorino