The Elixir of Love is one of the funniest and most popular of Donizetti’s operas
The Elixir of Love Photo: Jeff Busby
NZ Opera has chosen the comic masterpiece to showcase the talents of US based New Zealand singers Pene Pati (Sol3 Mio) and Amina Edris to play the lead characters: Pene is the hapless Nemorino and Amina is Adina- the woman he swallows the magic potion of love for and the richest woman in town
The production is nearly an all kiwi affair originally directed by Australian based NZ director Simon Phillips who set it in small town Australia during the first world war
The other parts are played by Australian baritone Morgan Pearse as Belcore, with two other kiwis Natasha Wilson and Conal Coad completing the cast.
The heart of the story though is the exploitation of the naïve and trusting by the opportunistic and self-serving
New Zealand Opera’s Director of Music Wyn Davies, is returning to the first opera of his conducting career and a firm favourite.
Eva Radich spoke to him and baritone Morgan Pearse yesterday about how rehearsals for The Elixir of Love are going.
