Anyone who happened into the Ellie Caulkins Opera House Friday evening could be forgiven for thinking he or she had stumbled onto a production of “The Music Man.”
In a charming new $400,000 production, Opera Colorado has shifted Gaetano Donizetti’s “L’elisir d’amore (The Elixir of Love)” from 19th-century Italy to the innocence of small-town America before World War I.
If an 1832 Italian opera set in the cornfields of Iowa sounds incongruous, director James Robinson’s staging makes it seem completely natural and logical right from the opening bars of the carefree overture.
Robinson strikes just the right tone with his fun, frothy take on this simple and likably predictable story of Nemorino, who, in this version, has been converted into a hapless ice cream vendor – an inspired choice.
He finds the courage he needs to win over Adina, the woman he has long loved from afar, by placing complete faith in a love elixir he naively purchases from Dr. Dulcamara, a seeming shyster who winds up surprising even himself.
Robinson puts his first-rate comic sensibility to good use, slightly overdrawing the characters to achieve their maximum comic potential but never losing sight of their essential humanity. Along the way, he adds clever sight gags and even toys with the singers’ vocal deliveries for additional laughs.
Comedy is always more difficult than it appears, and this intricate staging would not have been possible without a group of performers whose acting is every bit as strong as their singing. And that’s exactly what Opera Colorado found with this ideal cast.
Not a classic romantic lead in either looks or vocal temperament, Barry Banks is completely convincing in the central, underdog role of Nemorino. The tenor is a master of the physical comedy the part requires and skillfully handles its challenging vocal demands, including the famous aria, “Una furtiva lagrima,” though he seems to kind of overenunciate at times.
Return visits to Denver by soprano Maria Kanyova are always welcome, and she injects real star power into this production as Adina. With a beautiful voice that balances power and tenderness, she brings sureness and flair to every phrase, especially in her flawless, final Act 2 aria.
Baritone Simone Alberghini offers a delightful portrayal of Dr. Dulcamara, relishing every aspect of the scheming, fast-talking character with his outlandish purple suit. He puts his agile voice to fine use, especially in a sparkling opening aria and witty duet with Nemorino.
Rounding out the cast is baritone Timothy Mix, who excels as the oafish, self-satisfied Sergeant Belcore. Though not yet possessing the résumé of his fellow performers, he more than holds his own both dramatically and vocally.
Also deserving mention is the opera’s first-rate chorus, which brings a vibrancy to its portrayal of the townspeople and delivers capable performances in the ensemble sections.
Leading an orchestra of Colorado Symphony musicians, conductor Carlo Montanaro provides terrific support in the pit, with lively tempos that never allow the pacing to flag. The only blot is dreadful amplification of the harpsichord.
The sets by Opera Colorado regular Allen Moyer are, in a word, stunning. The designer takes an appropriately literal approach to this old-fashioned story, lovingly re-creating a small farm town, complete with a picture-perfect white gazebo centerstage.
The backdrop, front scrim and side panels are adorned with amazingly accurate blow-ups of Grant Wood paintings by Ziska Childs of Carbondale. Accenting it all is a 1926 Model T truck converted into a charming ice-cream wagon.
Equally strong are designer Martin Pakledinaz’s costumes, which range from overalls to Sunday-best apparel and strike an authentic chord. Less successful is the sometimes puzzling lighting by Paul Palazzo.
Fine arts critic Kyle MacMillan can be reached at 303-954-1675 or kmacmillan@denverpost.com.
“The Elixir of Love”
OPERA|Opera Colorado, Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets; 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Friday and 2 p.m. Sunday|$27-$157 |303-357-2787 or operacolorado.org
