L’Elisir D’Amore by Burry Port Opera review

In November this year Burry Port Opera, a society that has been performing Grand Opera since 1951, performed “L’Elisir D’Amore” by Donizetti.

This is a lively, light hearted, humorous opera with some beautiful arias. The story is about a young peasant lad who is madly in love with a rich girl in the village. She however, chooses to ignore him and flirts with a dashing sergeant, who arrives with his soldiers to the village.

A quack doctor by the name of Dr Dulcamara, comes to the village to sell his magic medicine, which in fact is just cheap wine. In desperation the young lad buys a bottle thinking it will have the effect that his loved one would also fall in love with him.

Not knowing to him, the village girls have been told that his rich uncle has died leaving him all his money. Now this changes ever thing, and all the girls suddenly ardore him. This makes the rich young girl, realise that she does actually love him. Yes you’ve got it, they get married and live happily ever after.

L’Elisir D’Amore review by Marion Williams

Burry Port Opera has triumphed again with this performance of Donizetti’s comic opera L’Elisir D’Amore. The tale of unrequited love was a joyous experience in the hands of consummate artists perfectly cast in the five major roles. They were ably supported by the well rehearsed chorus and an orchestra firmly controlled by conductor Ryan Lee who never allowed the sound to dominate the singers.

The singing throughout was excellent, as opera buffs will attest, the opera relies for much of its comic effects on characterisation and in this each artist excelled.

Adina, the object of Nemorino’s spurned affections was beautifully played by Adele O’Neill, a part which could have been written for her so perfectly did she play Adina’s variable moods by facial expression, body language and gesture. Her bewilderment as she saw Nemorino feted by the villagers was plain to see and as was her dawning realisation that she loved Nemorino.

Nemorino, played by Anthony Flaum, the gauche young suitor for Adina’s fickle affections, portrayed his anguish so realistically that one’s heart went out to him, a tribute to acting ability the level of which was maintained throughout.

Succumbing to the persuasive sales talk of the mendacious Dr Dulcamara he purchased the mildly alcoholic love potion, and that, combined no doubt with the its placebo effect, inspired him to dance extempore most delightfully.

Dulcamara, the quack doctor, a lovable rogue, was played by Sven Furst, who immediately endeared himself to the audience with his”Shwd ichi” and reference to Felinfoel (beers). Striding around, peddling his nostrum to the gullible villagers he charmed with the hyperbole of his claims. Bottles were distributed with largesse and payment safely stowed in a capacious waistcoat pocket. The rush to purchase was predictable causing a furious response from one irate husband whose wife had fallen for the sales talk — a lovely touch of chorus involvement. Dulcamara left the village, despite his dubious claims, with his reputation intact, even enhanced.

Belcore, the sergeant, was played by James McOran-Campbell, a crisp and polished performance displaying considerable athleticism and many subtle and well timed touches, particularly in his teasing of Nemorino and in his deliberate undermining of his fragile confidence. His overweening opinion of his attraction to women was evident in his off-hand acceptance of the jilting by Adina – there would be many more vying for his affections.

Gianetta, a peasant girl, was played by Laura Morris. Surely this young singer is destined for a leading role in the very near future. Her presence and confidence was evident in her exchange with the villagers when she told the news of Nemorino’s good fortune. Her ‘shushing’ exhortation not to tell was taken up most effectively by the villagers, their gossipy inclinations to spread the good news temporarily suppressed in conspiratorial fashion.

It is a tribute to the director, Keith J. Clarke that the chorus performed so meaningfully throughout. This was an involved group — responding to the actions of the main characters with small ripples of movement – a shake or a nod of the head, a turn to whisper to a neighbour, a finger pointing — and the clamorous, even quarrelsome response to Dulcamara’s sales talk when bottles were distributed was particularly well done.

I was asked if I had liked the performance. My response, “no, I did not like it, I loved it!”

Picture 1

This photograph shows the villagers buying the love portion from Dr Dulcamara, played by Sven Furst.

Picture 2

Here is the dashing sergeant, played by James McOran-Campbell, with soldiers and village folk.

 Pictures provided by Burry Port Opera.