The Denver Philharmonic Orchestra and Central City Opera performed Gaetano Donizetti’s comedic opera, “The Elixir of Love” at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts on Nov. 4. 

The union between the Denver Philharmonics—an international award-winning community orchestra of Denver musicians—and the Central City Opera—the fifth oldest professional opera company in the country—culminated in a lighthearted, one-of-a-kind performance.

Gaetano Donizetti was a leading composer of the bel canto opera style and composed nearly 70 operas in his lifetime. Allegedly written in mere weeks, “L’elisir d’amore,” or “The Elixir of Love” is one of his most frequently played operas and holds a place in the international opera repertory. 

Lawrence Golan, the music director of the Denver Philharmonics and a professor at the Lamont School of Music, conducted the opera starring Central City Opera stars Anna Christy, Matthew Plenk and Armando Contreras. Set in the late 18th century in a small Basque village, the whimsical two-act opera follows Nemorino, [Matthew Plenk] a poor peasant and Belcore, [Armando Contreras] a self-obsessed soldier, as they battle for the love of the indifferent landowner, Adina [Anna Christy]. 

In his desperation, Nemorino spends all his savings on a magic love potion from a phony doctor, Dulcamara, [also played by Armando Contreras] which is nothing more than cheap red wine. Despite a brief engagement between Adina and Belcore, Adina realizes that she has loved Nemorino all along—it helps that he just inherited a large fortune from his uncle—and Dulcamara is hailed as a miraculous physician and matchmaker.  

Despite only having three singers, the performance was lively and entertaining. Matthew Plenk’s powerful tenor harnessed the sincere, lovesick desperation of Nemorino while Anna Christy’s soprano rendered Adina as uninterested and alluring. Armando Contreras brought both of his characters to life with his comical expressions and spirited baritone voice. The singers’ performances were only enhanced by the vibrant orchestration of the Denver Philharmonics. 

Tickets for opera performances and numerous other events at the Newman Center for Performing Events can be found here.