Les Arts inaugurates Preseason with a 'young and current' production of 'L'elisir d'amore', by Donizetti

The Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía will premiere this Saturday, October 1, 'L'elisir d'amore', by Donizetti, the opera that begins the II Preseason with popular prizes.

Keri-Lynn Wilson returns to the podium of Les Arts deu anys after her first collaboration with the Valencian Community Orchestra (OCV), in February 2007, in a concert by mezzo-soprano Olga Borodina and bassist Ildar Abdrazakov.

According to the Canadian director, "if I am going to be impressed by any of the OCV's excellent levels, in the first opera with them I have seen how they have grown and matured in these times, the perfect technique and a great respect for the lyric and their vision. They have found in the penises of any level that in other formations it costs 50 years.”

The arts center houses the production of 'L'elisir d'amore', made in co-production with the Teatre Reial, which has continued to be required by the opera houses of Brussels, Graz and Palerm. Damiano Michieletto signs the inn on stage, with scenery by Paolo Fantin, costumes by Silvia Aymonino and lighting by Alessandro Carletti.

On this occasion, Eleonora Gravagnola signs the revival of this work “worthy of Broadway for its freshness and energy”, in the lyrics of Keri-Lynn Wilson. The director, who has assisted Damiano Michieletto in his main collaborations, has highlighted the young and current vision of this opera, the action of which is narrated in one day, both on second day and second night, on a Valencian beach.

In Michieletto's production, Adina runs the kiosk on the beach where Giannetta works. Nemorino is a humble 'xic per a tot', the greatest asset of which is being able to contemplate the beautiful Adina. Dulcamara is a modern sailor who promises to congratulate his new energetic beuratges, while Belcore is a new sailor at the port who disembarks on the coast with both female company.

"This story, the beach, brings together in a simple way the necessary relationships of the book and enhances the fun and credibility of the public. In the first act it is the daytime beach, with the families and the xiquets who play. In the second act it is the nighttime beach, with the party, the alcohol, the sexe, the jokes and after the desolate and buid beach in which Nemorino sings 'Una furtiva lacrima', one of the most famous moments of the score.

"The story of 'L'elisir d'amore' is fun but at the same time it is sad because it shows the misfortune of Nemorino, who proves the possible and impossible to conquer Adina. He even tries with a magical elixir that promises love, but the beauty is a lie in itself."

Outstanding artists, young singers and ancient students of the Plácido Domingo Center make up the distribution of the work. The soprano Ilona Mataradze, one of the first artists of the Center who has an international career, alternates the role of Adina with Karen Gardeazabal, of the current promotion of the artistic project.

For the latter band, the rising North American tenor William Davenport, who will also sing in 'Lucrezia Borgia', by Donizetti, performs the role of Nemorino, who has sung with success in the State Units, and has been considered one of the promises of the Italian repertoire.

Paolo Bordogna is one of the greatest stars of the 'buffo' repertoire, both working in the main opera houses of the world and with more than 50 roles in his resume. He will debut at Les Arts in 2011 with 'La Cenerentola' and returns to give life to Dulcamara, the 'xarrador' of 'L'elisir d'amore'.

The baritone Mattia Olivieri, who is also going to train at the Center de Perfection and who currently sings regularly in prestigious theaters and festivals such as Glyndebourne, the Rome Opera and the Scala de Milà, is Belcore. It features the well-known bel canto soprano Caterina di Tonno (Giannetta).

One of the favorites of the repertoire

'L'elisir d'amore' is a comic opera in two acts with books by Felice Romani , based on the book by Eugene Scribe for 'Le philtre', by Daniel-François-Esprit Auber. Released in Milà in 1832, it recounts the vicissitudes that the ingenuous Nemorino goes through to win the love of the rich and distant Adina. The success will be so great that the opera will remain on the billboard for 32 consecutive days and it will take some time for it to be released in Spain.

Donizetti's work is one of the essential fish of the opera repertoire and is among the first fifteen most representative titles of the great repertoire. The following score contains some of the most popular songs of the genre such as 'Una furtiva lacrima' and 'Chiedi all'aura lusinghiera'.

In addition to the premiere of this show, which will be released on October 1, Les Arts has more performances of 'L'elisir d'amore' on the 4th, 7th, 9th and 12th of this month. The import of the locations oscillates between 7 and 50 euros, with an intermediate price of 40, 28, 20 and 15 euros.