One part Midsummer Night’s Dream, one part Pretty In Pink, Gaetano Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love is sure to please even those who aren’t typically opera savvy. First performed in 1832, the classic man-in-love-with-a-woman-who’s-in-love-with-another-man scenario has the inexperienced young farmer Nemorino sick with love for the beautiful (but in his mind, unattainable) Adina, who’s infatuated with the dashing, confident Sergeant Belcore. The tried-and-true scenario is turned on its head, however, when a quack doctor arrives peddling a love potion. Orlando Opera performs and Frank McClain directs the romantic comedy, which will warm your cockles in Italian with English supertitles. Fri., Feb. 17, 7:30 p.m., and Sun., Feb. 19, 2:30 p.m., Ferguson Hall, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, downtown Tampa, $49.50 and $69.50, 813-229-7827 www.tbpac.org.
This article appears in Feb 15-21, 2006.
