Opera Meets Disco As Baylor Opera Theater Presents “The Elixir of Love”
Baylor Opera's "The Elixir of Love" goes 1970s. From left are Jennalee Brumme, Scott Clark, Matt Hagestuem, Kaitlyn Stobbe, Andy Eaton, Andrew Harper, Sarah Stephens, Brendan Boyle and Teddi Pinson. Courtesy photo.
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WACO, Texas (Jan. 27, 2015) – Baylor Opera Theater will raise the curtain on the Italian classic “Elixir of Love” for its first production of the year. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, and run through Saturday, Jan. 31, in the Jones Theater located inside the Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center.
“Instead of the 1800s, we’re staging it in the 1970s and making it cooler like with a big disco dance number in the second act,” said Edgar Sierra, a graduate theater major who will perform the role of Nemorino.
The classic story tells of Nemorino, a peasant, in love with a wealthy landowner, Adina, who is in love with a handsome army sergeant. Desperate for her love, the protagonist buys a love potion from a local charlatan. Set to a new era, Nemorino is the school nerd and Adina the grooviest girl on campus.
This fully staged Baylor Opera Theatre production will be performed in Italian with English subtitles. It will feature students from the Vocal Division and the Baylor Symphony Orchestra, all under the baton of Jeffrey Peterson, assistant professor of voice. Stage direction will be by Octavio Cárdenas, assistant professor of ensembles and director of Baylor Opera.
“We’ve been working since July and began staging in November. You really have to understand the language and know the meaning behind each word you’re saying and being said to you and find a way to portray that in your singing and acting,” Sierra said.
“L’esilir d’amore” (“The Elixir of Love”) was written by the Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti and premiered in Milan on May, 12, 1832, at Milan’s Teatro Lirico (Lyric Theater). Tickets are $15; $10 for students.
The Hooper Schaefer Fine Arts Center is located at 60 Baylor Ave. in Waco.
For ticket information, call the box office at 254-710-1865, or visit the Baylor Theater website HERE
by Sarah Czerwinski, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805
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