The Catskill Chronicle

Review by Barry Plaxen, Photos by Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera

LOCH SHELDRAKE (October 15, 2012) – How to direct an opera 101 might have been the subject for “L’Elisir d’Amore,” the opening production of the 2012-2013 Live from the Met in HD series shown on October 13 at Sullivan County Community College (SCCC) in Loch Sheldrake. Composer Gaetano Donizetti and his librettist Felice Romani wrote the opera in the 1830s. It was based on Eugene Scribe’s 1831 libretto for composer Daniel Auber’s opera “Le Philtre.”

Opera Directing 101 – Are you sitting down? Prepare yourself.

This production’s director, Bartlett Sher, has set this 1830s opera in the 1830s. Costume designer Catherine Zuber has dressed the entire cast in what is 1830s clothing. Even set designer Michael Yeargan said something to the effect that the 1830s musical score suggested the colors he selected for his sets.

Sorry to be facetious here, but after a number of the Met’s updated modern dress and surrealist versions of mid 19^th century Romantic operas, in which the designs and the stage actions clashed with the dialogue, the above was a breath of fresh air.

Visually, the production was a work of art. The sets and costumes offered a pastel spectrum of lilac to lavender, pink to tan, white to light brown, all with clearly delineated creams, wheats, beiges, etc. The exceptions were the bright colors worn by the leads, and the bright, sharp blue uniforms worn by the soldiers depicting the glamour, and the authority, of the 1830s attitude toward the military.

Director Sher’s stage direction probably ranks within the top five I have ever seen. Maybe even top three. To start with, he created believable and integrated stage business to fully motivate the dialogue that came after. The actors never lost concentration throughout the entire time, and you knew every thought that they were thinking, no matter what they were actually saying. Adding to production’s ability to mesmerize the audience was the fact that the actors just happened to be four of the world’s greatest living opera singers. And each chorus member was carefully given convincing characterizations and credible actions.

Due to the inspired work of Sher, Anna Netrebko as Adina (left in photo above), Matthew Polenzani as Nemorino (at right in photo), Mariusz Kwiecien as Belcore and Ambrogio Maestri as Dulcamara (in center of photo below), the silly cliché plot – boy loves girl – girl loves boy but doesn’t know it – became a moving and captivating story of human behavior(s) that could have come from Verdi’s or Puccini’s librettists. Even the corny magic love potions that are simply carafes of Bordeaux and the rags to riches surprise became happy, entertaining plot twists that prepared you for the inevitable happy ending.

The comedic music, perfectly executed by the Met Orchestra under the direction of Maurizio Benini, propels the action with deliciously delightful duets and trios until the second half of Act II when two very serious arias are sung, bringing more depth to the already rounded-out characters. Polenzani must be congratulated for his ability to combine his almost L’il Abner mien – naivete, genuousness, honesty, gullibility and youth – which became fully realized in the famous, serious, aria “Una Fortiva Lagrima,” Netrebko, as she often is, is perfect as his love interest, while Kwiecien and Maestri perform their buffoonish roles with outstandingly beautiful vocalizing, not the oft-heard comic singing in these roles. Netrebko’s understanding of Adina’s wavering in her affections was portrayed with much inspiration, always somehow aware that she was also on stage to entertain.

What a joy it was to hear singing of the highest possible order and to see each and every action faithful to the libretto, being emotionally moved and never once being distracted or losing involvement in what was happening on the stage.

Verdi’s “Otello” is next in the series, on October 27. For tickets: 845-434-5750, ext. 4377.

And then on October 28 at 2:00 p.m., the Delaware Valley Opera (DVO) will present a live staged production at SCCC of Mozart’s “Abduction from the Seraglio.” For DVO tickets: 845-252-3136.