By Hilary Olsen Koolhoven
Gaetano Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love currently being performed at Westminster College in Salt Lake City is set in a small village in the balmy Italian countryside, and audience members can relax and enjoy one of the most cherished romantic comedies in opera.
Although performed in the Vieve Gore Concert Hall, the production staff have taken a stage that is normally used for recitals and concerts and turned it into a small town in rural Italy. The set (Emilio Casillas) is expansive, and gives the feel that it has been there for hundreds of years and will continue for another century. Director Marc Reynolds makes great use of the space he is given to create a production that is both entertaining and engaging. The costumes (designed by Andrea Davenport) are colorful and detailed, adding to the overall rustic feel of the show. The orchestra, led by Michael G. Leavitt and Music Director Emily Williams, brings beauty and warmth to Donizetti’s beloved score.
Sung in Italian with English supertitles, the opera opens to Nemorino (Eric Taylor) who is deeply in love with the beautiful and intelligent Adina (Jillian Roberts Feb. 2; Hannah Stokes Feb. 3). More interested in her book, Adina seems indifferent to his feelings and ignores him, leaving him miserable. Sergeant Belcore (Brennon Nelson), also in love with Adina, proudly courts her in front of everyone in the village, even to the point of proposing to her. Nemorino becomes so desperate to win Adina’s love that he buys a “love potion” from a traveling doctor, Dulcamara (Gregory Watts). But what Nemorino doesn’t know is that the “elixir” he bought is nothing but cheap wine. The result is a drunken hilarity that only a 19th Century romantic comedy can provide.
The quality of singing in the cast, especially from the principles, is exceptional. From a relatively young program, Westminster’s vocal department is a great sampling of what the future of opera has in store. Taylor plays Nemorino with considerable commitment to the character in both expression and voice. His singing is particularly noteworthy, a sound that has both clarity and a lush texture. Stokes sings Adina with finesse, her high notes are clear and fill the entire concert hall beautifully. Nelson brings charm and a rich baritone voice to the bold Belcore. Watt’s Dulcamara is suave and confident, his voice robust and resonant. The pattering he performs is especially remarkable: he sings the Italian text effortlessly and at incredible speeds. There is also Gianetta (Val Tholen), Adina’s friend and the town gossip, who does not get much singing time, but Tholen owns every minute she has onstage. Even the chorus is engaging, bringing their own individual personalities and adding to the small town setting of the opera.
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Overall, The Elixir of Love at Westminster College is a delightful production that appeals to all audiences, including those new to opera.
The Florence J. Gillmor School of Music, Westminster Opera Studio presents The Elixir of Love by Gaetano Donizetti
Westminster College, Vieve Gore Concert Hall, 1840 South 1300 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84105
February 2-3, 2018 7:30 PM
Tickets: $10 or free with a Westminster ID
Westminster Musictheatredance Facebook Page
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