Lyric Opera 2021-2022 Issue 2 The Elixir of Love

Lyric Opera of Chicago | 32 Maestro Mazzola in rehearsal for Pagliacci ,which premiered on video in August 2021.The production was lmed and performed in the Lyric Opera House. Kyle Flubacker ELIXIR IS RICH IN OPPORTUNITIES FOR SINGERS TO SHOWCASE THEIR BEL CANTO TECHNIQUE AND STYLE WHILE CREATING CHARACTERS WE CAN IDENTIFY WITH. WHAT ARE THE IMPORTANT THINGS A CONDUCTOR MUST PAY ATTENTION TO WHEN REHEARSING AND CONDUCTING THIS OPERA? Finding the comic rhythm. You either do it right or wrong—there’s no compromise between the two. In some respects, the comedy dictates the tempo; what I call the “smiling tension” must always be kept high. TODAY’S OPERA AUDIENCES—AT LEAST THOSE IN THE UNITED STATES—ONLY GET TO HEAR A FRACTION OF THE NEARLY 70 OPERAS THAT DONIZETTI WROTE. The operatic industry in the U.S. tends to be a little bit more conservative and less exploratory than [the one] in Europe. Over there, one tends to hear more Donizetti operas, but it’s true that there are many operas that should enter the repertoire. Three Donizetti operas I conduct a great deal are Anna Bolena , Maria Stuarda , and Roberto Devereux , all of which have entered the standard repertoire in recent decades. I’ve also conducted Donizetti’s Poliuto , which is quite short, very straightforward, and very direct. It’s a fantastic work. WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO LYRIC OPERA AUDIENCE MEMBERS WHO MAY BE SEEING THE ELIXIR OF LOVE FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH THIS NEW-TO-CHICAGO PRODUCTION? The Elixir of Love is the perfect rst opera for newcomers to the Lyric Opera House. It’s a romantic comedy that will stir memories of your rst love. You will spend 90 percent of the time smiling and laughing. The melodies are fresh and appealing and go directly to your heart. Elixir proves that, far from an intellectual exercise, opera can be pure pleasure! John von Rhein retired from the Chicago Tribune in July 2018 after more than 40 years as its music critic. He continues to write about classical music on a freelance basis.