★★★★★ It had been a long time, not counting the break during the pandemic, since the Teatro Colón had not brought together a cast of international figures of the highest level imaginable for an opera. That unusual and almost miraculous conjunction materialized in “El elixir de amor”, the fourth title of the lyrical season.
This comic opera by Gaetano Donizetti, premiered in 1832, continues to captivate in the 21st century, with its beautiful music and a plot centered on a capricious girl and a naive young man, capable of buying a supposed potion that allows him to make the girl fall in love.
In this staging, Emilio Sagi chose to move the action back to the 1950s, rather than the original rural setting. In a setting full of dynamism and color, with an aesthetic that refers to “Grease”, the characters ride a bicycle and dance rockabilly steps. Every detail devised by Sagi brought freshness to the future of the story, with wonderful works by Enrique Bordolini (set design), Renata Schussheim (costumes) and José Luis Fiorruccio (lighting).
The leading couple seems difficult to beat, because in addition to being admirable singers, Nadine Sierra and Javier Camarena, they are two great comedians. The soprano tackled the lyrical passages and the coloraturas with equal mastery, showing the nuances of Adina’s character in her singing and in her gestures. For his part, Camarena was a charming Nemorino, vocally dazzling and with a deep acting sensitivity. In his second performance, the applause he received in “Una furtiva lagrima” led him to repeat this famous aria, something very infrequent at the Colón (SEE BOX). With an anthological performance, Ambrogio Maestri managed to make the charlatan Dulcamara, the seller of the false elixir, lovable. Florencia Machado (Giannetta) and Alfredo Daza (Belcore) completed the cast, with ease and solvency.
Evelino Pidò carried out a meticulous concertation task, with precision in the tempi and leaving the necessary margin for the deployment of the voices. Special mention deserves the Stable Choir, conducted by Miguel Martínez, impeccable in each intervention.
Although there were stars leading the cast, what prevailed in this production was great teamwork, which resulted in a show at the level of the best that has been seen at the Colón in recent times. An absolute enjoyment from start to finish.
