What would you do to have all the arrogance that you must make your desires come true? The flexibility to consider in our desires and stand tall within the face of rejection is one thing many individuals need. With Opera Colorado’s abridged touring manufacturing of The Elixir of Love, we hope audiences harness that feeling!
The Elixir of Love follows a easy cowhand, Nemorino, who’s in love with a lady whom he thinks is out of his league, Adina. To have the arrogance to win her love, Nemorino drinks what he believes is a magical love potion, and hilarity ensures.
Our Artists in Residence will carry out this touring opera this season. They journey throughout all corners of Colorado to varsities and group teams. Be taught extra about this manufacturing of The Elixir of Love from the director Cherity Koepke, with a Q&A.
Why did you select to placed on The Elixir of Love?
This manufacturing of The Elixir of Love was created in 2017. Our touring productions on the time had been profitable, however lecturers wished one thing new. So, I wanted to search out one thing that was fascinating, timeless, and sensible for our Artists in Residence to sing; The Elixir of Love was a superb match.
My inspiration got here whereas I used to be driving by way of the mountain cities in Colorado and noticed essentially the most lovely primary streets. I noticed these primary roads and knew a small Colorado city was the place I wished to set The Elixir of Love. The group on this story is remoted from others however stuffed with many individuals who’ve been round one another for his or her complete lives. I did a tour of those mountain cities and took pictures of the primary streets to know the colours and storefronts. It’s so thrilling to tie this story to Colorado’s personal historical past and carry out it for communities inside the state.
Why set the piece in previous West Colorado?
In Colorado, all these historic websites and mountain cities encompass us. They’re now vacationer locations, so we protect the buildings like artifacts. We’ve got held on to those historic buildings as a substitute of tearing them down, which I feel speaks to who we’re immediately as a state. I need The Elixir of Love to honor the early years of Colorado’s statehood. This concept alsoreinforces what children are studying at school. As they find out about this era of historical past and see it reside on stage with costumes and relatable characters, I feel their curiosity about Colorado’s wealthy historical past will develop.
What do the units appear to be?
The set is a compelled perspective, so it appears just like the buildings lean in on you. It helps to create the sensation of a sequestered city. It feels remoted but additionally like one thing might be simply across the nook. One set focuses on a saloon which, within the early 1800s, was a darkish area with heavy furnishings lit by candles and fires. The one in our story is known as Auntie Jan’s Root Beer Saloon, named after Jan Barrow who helped sponsor this touring manufacturing. The elixir Nemorino drinks is root beer in a whiskey bottle; don’t fear–this manufacturing is customized for all ages. There’s even an operational saloon door for the artists to swing by way of to enter a scene.
The units additionally open to disclose the primary avenue. From my analysis of Colorado mountain cities, I discovered which buildings all the time gave the impression to be on the primary avenue and the place they’re in relation to one another. There’s all the time a financial institution, common retailer, resort/restaurant, and saloon. Within the Victorian Age, they used extra saturated than immediately, so you will notice that bolder coloration palette mirrored on the primary avenue.
What are you able to inform us in regards to the costumes?
The costumes are very correct to the historic interval. The whole lot in The Elixir of Love is sourced from Colorado, from vintage shops to a historic emporium costume manufacturing facility. These characters are all people with sturdy personalities. In some tales, characters share a coloration palette to point out their connection. Nevertheless, Adina doesn’t lose her headstrong nature when in love, so her outfit retains her personal persona and colours. Moreover, Giannetta, who runs the saloon, wears gaucho pants. I wish to remind the viewers that ladies didn’t all the time put on clothes, corsets, and bustles. Lastly, take note of the dapper nature of Dulcamara, the snake oil salesman. These in his occupation had some useful treatments–like laudanum, which was one of many few drugs to deal with ache on the time–however they had been principally considered as swindlers.
What do you hope audiences take away from The Elixir of Love?
The Elixir of Love is about being courageous sufficient to go after what you need and share your emotions. Many relatable conditions on this story encourage audiences to lean into embracing love and accepting others who’re completely different from them. Along with sharing these values with our viewers, I need them to be interested in the place they reside. They’re seeing the historical past of Colorado in a singular and theatrical format. Each time we placed on The Elixir of Love, we’re touring with tiny treasures from throughout the state. We use slang from the previous West like saying “howdy” as a substitute of “good day” and “gals” as a substitute of “girls” or “women.”
By way of our Artists in Residence, I hope they get pleasure from performing the comedic facet of this piece. They’re partaking with roles they’re sure to carry out once more. Our Nemorino, tenor Randy Ho, shared that that is his favourite position. His voice is so well-suited to this character; I’m certain he’ll sing Nemorino once more. This manufacturing, set within the old-West, feels particular as a result of Randy is a Colorado native.
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See The Elixir of Love for your self!
Are you excited for The Elixir of Love? Convey this touring manufacturing to your faculty or group heart. E-mail us at schooling@operacolorado.org or name 303.778.7350 to order. Be taught extra about this manufacturing on our web site>>
Do you know that Opera Colorado provides partial scholarships for ALL of our academic packages? Scholarships can be found on a first-come, first-serve foundation. To use, please fill out and return the suitable software:
Faculty Scholarship or Neighborhood Scholarship
