Donizetti’s “L’Elisir d’Amore” is one of the gems in the history of comic opera and a favorite of the opera goers.  The Met presents it in the stage version of theatre director Bartlett Sher, who creates a charming production full of dynamically comic scenes, but also of moments of romance and emotional beauty.

The young Venezuelan conductor Domingo Hindoyan (husband of Bulgarian opera star Sonya Yoncheva) will have his Met debut. Her first appearance in the role of Adina on the Met stage will make also the new black pearl of the opera stage – the young and beautiful South African soprano Pretty Yende, whose singing was already praised at the ROH “Covent Garden” and at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich. Her Nemorino will be played by the brilliant tenor Matthew Polenzani, who had performed the part at the opera’s Met premiere in 2013 with Anna Netrebko as Adina. Two Italians are also taking part – newcomer Davide Luciano as Belcore and the renowned and charismatic Ildebrando D’Arcangelo as d-r Dulcamara.

Nemorino is in love with the pretty and frivolous Adina, but he is poor. He falls for the lies of the charlatan Dulcamara and believes that the normal wine, which he buys from him at enormous price, is a magic potion, which will evoke feelings in the heart of his beloved woman. The comic story, created by Felice Romani with Gaetano Donizetti’s splendid music, has a happy ending.

Pretty Yende’s singing has a silvery brightness and purity.

The Independent

On the photo: Matthew Polenzani (Nemorino)