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“Elixer of Love” a perfect Valentine’s Day celebration
By Adam Alonzo, Contributing Writer
Dayton Opera brewed a potent potion of music and romance on Saturday, Feb. 14, with Donizetti’s “The Elixir of Love.” The Schuster Center stage resembled an Italian landscape painting: the entire set was surrounded by an ornate picture frame, and the singers themselves became part of the pastoral canvas.
Tenor Scott Piper made a welcome return to Dayton in the role of Nemorino, a poor peasant hopelessly devoted to the affluent Adina, sung by Rachel Watkins. Her voice revealed great delicacy in the Act I cavatina about Tristan and Isolde, but it also possessed the power to sound clearly above a boisterous peasant chorus. Watkins’ early promise was fulfilled toward the end of Act II with her starlit aria to an enraptured Nemorino.
Most of the leading couple’s duets could be described as musical arguments. As Adina sang “Yes, yes, yes,” Nemorino replied “No, no, no.” When his vocal line went up the scale, hers came down — obviously two people heading in opposite directions. Piper at last found a sympathetic partner in the bassoon during his signature romanza “A Furtive Tear.” Its final measures had a narrative arc all their own due to his subtle shaping of sound.
What Nemorino and Adina lacked in chemistry was compensated for by alchemy with the arrival of the charlatan Dr. Dulcamara, portrayed by bass-baritone Thomas Hammons. His method of conveyance on stage prompted the audience to react with surprise and applause. Hammons at times struggled with tempo and pitch during his pattering passages of rapid Italian, yet he played the duplicitous doctor comically, convincing Nemorino to buy a worthless elixir to win Adina’s love.
Baritone Jeremy Kelly sang the role of Sergeant Belcore, who professes affection for Adina, though he is deeply in love with himself. Kelly’s delivery had an appropriate amount of bombastic pomposity, and he carried much of the show’s humor on his braided shoulders.
The opera chorus, prepared by Jeffrey Powell, was very active in this production. The women especially distinguished themselves in a twilight scene with soprano Katherine Lindhart in the role of gossip girl Gianetta.
After hearing he inherited a fortune, the women threw themselves at Nemorino, convincing him (and the befuddled Dulcamara) that the love potion actually works. Nemorino’s naiveté gives him confidence for the first time, Adina finds this boldness intriguing, and as their relationship develops it seems the elixir is not so worthless after all.
“The Elixir of Love” will be presented again Friday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Schuster Center.
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