Details
Electric Theatre
Onslow Street
Guildford
Surrey
GU1 4SZ
England
Programme
Gaetano Donizetti – L'Elisir d'Amore
Performers
Callie Gaston – soprano
Alex Haigh – Tenor
Simon Wilson – baritone
Lewis Gaston – Music Director
Mike B Smith – Bass
Jan Barklem – soprano
Guildford Opera Company
Other concerts in this Series (+)
Programme Note
The show promises to be just the right event to celebrate the royal wedding. The story of the rich, capricious, landowner, Adina and her adoring but timid suitor, Nemorino, is one of the most well-known comic operas. As Nemorino struggles to speak to Adina, along comes the hot-blooded, bold Sergeant Belcore, who knows how to sweep a girl off her feet – and before you can blink, she’s agreed to marry him! Of course, the villagers are over the moon at the chance of a wedding feast. Add in a travelling quack doctor, Dulcamara who, with his Elixir of Love, might be able to help Nemorino.
The cast is headed by Callie Gaston singing Adina and Jan Barklem is her friend Giannetta. Her suitors are Alex Haigh as Nemorino and Mike Smith as Belcore, both making their debut with the company in this production. Simon Wilson is the ‘famous’ Doctor Dulcamara.
The story plays like a farce with broad characters and all the eccentricities of village life. There are lively exuberant choruses sung in English with plenty of comic moments. The music is accompanied by a chamber quintet and surtitles are on display in case you don’t catch the words. If you’re not sure if opera is for you, this is the perfect one to start your opera experience.
There will be a 'royal' wedding buffet tea served in the cafe bar from 5.30 pm before this performance.