The Elixir of Love by Gaetano Donizetti

The Elixir of Love by Gaetano Donizetti
Opera Queensland. Lyric Theatre, QPAC. May 15 – 29. Conductor: Graham Abbott. Original Director: Simon Phillips. Revival Director: Christopher Dawes.

Operas that are reconceived and updated don’t always work, but Simon Phillips’ take on The Elixir of Love is a joy from start to finish. Originally mounted at the State Theatre of the Victorian Arts Centre in 2001, it sets Donizetti’s tale of a love-sick peasant who buys a love potion to win the heart of the girl he loves in the Australian bush at the start of World War 1. The boy becomes a sheep shearer, the doctor who sells the potion becomes the Rawleigh’s Ready Relief man, and the elixir becomes Coca-Cola, which was introduced to the country around that time. Michael Scott Mitchell’s brilliant set design is a panorama of corrugated iron, cut-out sheep and cattle, a power-line of pink galah’s and even a chook house. The Australiana theme is followed through in the surtitles by Brian Fitzgerald, which are sprinkled with words like “bonza,” “sheilas” and “good sorts.” It’s incongruous to believe that’s what the characters are actually singing in Italian, but it adds a further dimension of fun to the production. Donizetti’s score, which he amazingly wrote in two weeks, still sparkles. Top vocal honors went to Jose Carbo as the officer Belcore. His magnificent baritone dominated the night. Natalie Jones (Adina) and Virgilio Marino (Nemorino) vocally were are bit light-weight for the roles, but Andrew Collis was a more than accomplished Doctor Dulcamara, with Emily Burke a bright and bubbly Giannetta. I admired Christopher Dawes’ remounting of Phillips’ original production, with its attention to detail, and the chorus and Queensland Symphony Orchestra under Graham Abbott were all in fine form. It’s a refreshingly “true blue” start to Opera Queensland’s 2010 season.
Peter Pinne

Belcore (José Carbó) and Nemorino (Virgilio Marino)
 

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