Composer - Donizetti

Company - Norfolk Into Opera Festival 2019

Director - Genevieve Raghu

Conductor - John Andrews

Belcore - Themba Mvula

Into Opera’s brand new production of Donizetti’s comic opera, The Elixir of Love is set to be the perfect potion to get you ‘into’ opera.

Set in rural Norfolk during World War 1 and perfomed at the atmospheric Octagon Barn in Little Plumstead, this production will offer audiences an immersive and imaginative opera experience.

Men have started heading to war, leaving jobs back at home on the land and the factories empty. Adina swaps skirts for trousers and steps up to run her family farm, working on the fields, managing staff and recruiting more women for support. One of the loyal labourers, Nemorino, who has always cared deeply for Adina has remained at the farm to support her. As he watches her lead, inspire and keep up the spirits of the work force, his feelings, passion and admiration for her grows. When Sergeant Belcore visits the farm he quickly becomes captivated by Adina. When at War, there is no time to lose, so Belcore acts fast, determined to love and win Adina. But Nemorino won’t give up. Nemorino buys a magical medicine from the travelling salesman, Dulcamara. This elixir of love promises to solve all his problems and to give Nemorino a sure advantage in the battle for Adina’s heart.

Bubbling with comedy and bursting with beautiful melodies, The Elixir of Love is without a doubt one of Donizetti’s greatest operas. This production will be performed in English in an especially adapted translation by Norfolk’s own David Parry.