Oak Park Newspaper

The Elixir of Love
by Gaetano Donizetti
(Domenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti )
Libretto in Italian by Felice Romani

Time: 19th Century
Place: Italy
Opera first performed in Milan, on May 12th, 1832

review by Ed Vincent

"The Elixir of Love" (L'elisir d'amore) is a wonderful opera with gleaming bel canto from the lips of Nicole Cabell. I found Cabell's performance top notch and
beautiful, as bel canto is sought to be. Her power and
gentle tone were both elegant and charming. She easily
reached the furthest part of the theater and equally
brought the quiet timbre of a gifted soprano to stage.

The sets were dramatic and worked well with some lighting changes to reflect different times of the day. I had just watched the Mets recording from 1991 with Luciano Pavaroti and found the theatrics and sets in the Lyrics production superior.

Gaetano Donizetti was known to have created some operas in short time and often many in a short time. He is recorded to given his hand to some 74 or more operas
and “The Elixir of Love” was his fortieth opera. In a letter written to his librettist Felice Romani, Donizetti notes the following...”I am obliged to write an opera in fourteen days. I give you a week to do your share... But I warn you, we have a German prima donna, a tenor who stutters,
a buffo with a voice like a goat, and a worthless French basso. Still, we must cover ourselves with glory.” They not
only covered themselves in glory, we still find ovations for the opera today all around the world, plus no one has to die.

Giuseppe Filianoti as Nemorino (until February 7th) is
tremendous in his theatrics, choreography and does a
nice job of "Una furtiva lagrima", the best know aria
of the opera. His playing opposite Nicole Cabell as Adina
is well suited in their shared ability to be enjoyed visually
and heard singing with one another. The comical embrace with all of the maids later in the performance is truly a delight for the audience, and the choreography of the moves is well noted and taken by the audience.

Gariele Viviani as Belcore is fun and performed with fine demeanor and a nice voice. Alessandro Corbelli as Dulacamara has been in this roll many times and might even sell more elixir with each performance. His singing is bel canto and delightful, his prices are high though, but how can you put a price on love?

The subtitles of this Lyric presentations are even more up to date with today's diction and thus more amusing and topical.

Gaetano Donizetti along with Vincenzo Bellini and Gioachino Rossini, are the better known composers of the bel canto opera, and this performance is one to see and hear at the Lyric.............

Una furtiva lagrima (Una furtiva lagrima)

Pavarotti in act II L'elisir d'amore singing "Una furtiva lagrima"

The Elixir of Love Synopsis

Gaetano Donizetti Bio

BY TRAIN
The Civic Opera House is conveniently located near both Union Train
Station and the Richard Ogilvie Transportation Center (formerly
Northwestern Station). Union Station is bound by the following
streets: Clinton (west); Canal (east); Jackson (south); and Adams
(north). The Ogilvie Transportation Center is bound by the following
streets: Clinton (west); Canal (east); Madison (south)/ main entrance;
and Washington (north). For additional information, including train
schedules, contact METRA Train Information/Passenger
Services at (312) 322-6777.