L'elisir d'amore

Previous to this I saw the 1996 production with Alagna and Gheorghiu. That is the production I only just prefer, however L'Elisir D'Amore is still very, very good.

I am very fond of the opera, it is a lot of fun and the music really sparkles. Here the costume and set design are beautifully evoked and helped by skillful video directing, and the conducting and orchestral playing perform the sparkling score effortlessly with the chorus beautifully balanced.

The performances are better than I expected. I am not a fan of either Rolando Villazon or Anna Netrebko but both are growing on me. Netrebko is a beautiful, playful and very believable Adina, but Villazon I thought was outstanding in a clumsy yet heartfelt performance, in my mind that's how Nemorino should be. Una Furtiva Lagrima is truly beautiful.

I like Leo Nucci a lot, and while his Belcore is much older and different to other interpretations I've seen and heard he does sing and act very well and I thought this characterisation on the whole worked. More problematic though is Ildebrando D'Archangelo as Dulcamara, he has a wonderful voice and is a great actor but unlike the Dulcamara of the 1996 production he doesn't quite come to life for me.

Overall, fun and charming. 9/10 Bethany Cox

This one boasts some good singing from Rolando Villazon,a great"furtima",nice theatrical values,the leads are cute,Villazon looks funny and Netrebko is gorgeous.In the music department i really didn't like the conducting or orchestration much,in my mind they took too many liberties.Netrebko,like i said is gorgeous as Adina and as she is a great dramatic operatic soprano,she has much expression and ease of movement on the stage.In theatrical terms this one is my favorite version,certainly way better than the concert-looking one of Pavarotti and Battle,and i also like it better than the Gheorghiu,but in terms of singing Netrebko,i think seems too concentrated on her acting and seemed to me to be rushing her arias.If you want pure melody you are better off with Battle,but Netrebko does have an impressive voice,only i think the comedic bel canto is not her forte.So,all in all,an uneven production ,with great theatrics but not so great in the music department.

When friends or family ask me which opera would you recommend to see as a first experience of the art. Without hesitation I would pick L'elisir d'amore . Mabe follwed by Rigoletto and Andrea Chenier.

And this performance is as good as it gets. I have seen the two principles Rolando Villazon and Anna Netrebko in operas not suited to their voices. But this bel canto comedy is a match made in heaven for them.

To be honest I have never seen the final duet of a live opera on stage.

When Adina realizes she loves Nemorino . And it's not only because of the money he has inherited. When during their love duet Rolando and Anna looked very much that they really loved each other. And maybe they did. To be honest they get a "bit" carried away.

However the audience loved it as much as them . And so did !!