Merola Opera Program presents Donizetti's "L'Elisir D'Amore" August 5, 6, 7 and 8 at Fort Mason

Merola's new faces cast at Fort Mason production of Donizetti's "L'Eliser D'Amore" this August

MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM PRESENTS L’ELISIR D’AMORE
AUGUST 5, 6, 7 and 8

Specific Casting Announced

SAN FRANCISCO—July 12, 2010—The Merola Opera Program presents Gaetano Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore August 5, 6, 7 and 8 at the Cowell Theater at Fort Mason Center.

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Sharing the role of Adina are Metropolitan National Council Audition Finals winner Nadine Sierra and Sara Tucker Award winner Valentina Fleer. Nemorino is played by Australian singer Alexander Lewis and southern California tenor Daniel Montenegro. The role of Belcore—Nemorino’s rival—is shared by Canadian baritone Benjamin Covey and Chinese national Ao Li. Rounding out the casts will be 2009 Career Bridge Competition winner Hye Jung Lee and Abigail Santos Villalobos as Giannetta, and—as the crafty Dr. Dulcamera—Florida Grand Opera’s Young Patronesses of the Arts competition winner Sidney Outlaw and baritone Thomas Florio.

The opera will be double cast: Nadine Sierra, Daniel Montenegro, Hye Jung Lee, Benjamin Covey and Thomas Florio will appear on August 5 and 7; Valentina Fleer, Alexander Lewis, Abigail Santos Villalobos, Ao Li and Sidney Outlaw on August 6 and 8.

Note: The Cowell Theater at Fort Mason is a wonderful intimate place in a world class setting on the water but it sometimes feels inaccessible on a hot summer afternoon. Patrons may wish to consider the wharf and marina traffic and come early in the day to park.

Conductor Martin Katz will lead members of the San Francisco Opera Center Orchestra in this production directed by Nicola Bowie, who recently directed Le nozze di Figaro for Eugene Opera and choreographed Die Fledermaus for The Dallas Opera. Bowie has chosen to set this production in a San Francisco theater in 1942, with Adina as the lead actress and manager of a play and Nemorino as a poor props boy.

Donizetti wrote L’Elisir d’Amore following the success of his opera Anna Bolena, which made him famous throughout Europe. The opera tells the story of Nemorino, who is smitten with the beautiful Adina and tormented by her apparent indifference. Dulcamara, a traveling magician with bottled cures for every ailment, empties Nemorino’s pockets for a love potion, which turns out to be wine. Complications arise in the form of the dashing Belcore, suitor to Adina and, eventually, her fiancé in a hastily arranged marriage ceremony. Adina ultimately realizes her true affection for Nemorino, and—in addition to her love—Nemorino receives an unexpected inheritance. The popular score contains many delights including the often-excerpted aria, “Una furtiva lagrima”.

This production is graciously underwritten by the Frances K. & Charles D. Field Foundation, The Bernard Osher Foundation and the Arques Charitable Education Trust. Supertitles will be provided by Il Cenacolo Italian Cultural Club. Martin Katz is generously sponsored by Darla & Richard Bastoni and Mike & Rusty Rolland and Nicola Bowie is generously sponsored by the Wallis Foundation.

Sung in Italian with English supertitles, the four performances of L’Elisir d’Amore are scheduled for August 5 (8:00 p.m.), August 6 (8:00 p.m.), August 7 (8:00 p.m.) and August 8 (2:00 p.m.) 2010. The Merola Opera Program’s Summer 2010 Season will also include The Schwabacher Summer Concert at Herbst Theatre (July 16) and the Merola Grand Finale at the War Memorial Opera House (August 21).

The Merola Opera Program is dedicated to the continuing education and training of the finest young operatic talent and the development of this talent into professional opera singers, coaches and stage directors of the highest artistic caliber. Merola operates in close artistic collaboration with San Francisco Opera but is an independent nonprofit organization. Governed by a separate board of directors, Merola is responsible for its own long-term financial stability and fundraising, and is grateful to the hundreds of loyal members, donors and foundations who support the Program.

Tickets are affordably priced at $60 and $40, in addition to a student price of $25.* Call the San Francisco Opera Box Office at (415) 864-3330 to purchase tickets Monday 10:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. or Tuesday-Friday 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. The Cowell Theater is located at Fort Mason at the intersection of Marina Boulevard and Buchanan Street. There is no street address. There is low cost parking in front of the theater.

*Student tickets must be purchased in person at the Box Office window, located inside the War Memorial Opera House at 301 Van Ness Ave. Valid student ID is required.

For more information about Merola, please visit www.merola.org or phone (415) 551-6299.

Casting and production team for L’Elisir d’Amore is as follows:

L’Elisir d’Amore
by Gaetano Donizetti/Libretto by Felice Romani
Sung in Italian with English supertitles
Cowell Theater at Fort Mason Center
Tickets: $60/$40
Call the San Francisco Opera Box Office at (415) 864-3330 to purchase tickets Monday 10:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. or Tuesday-Friday 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

CAST: Thursday, August 5 and Saturday, August 7 at 8:00 p.m.
Adina, Nadine Sierra
Nemorino, Daniel Montenegro
Belcore, Benjamin Covey
Giannetta, Hye Jung Lee
Dulcamara, Thomas Florio

CAST: Friday, August 6 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, August 8, 2:00 p.m.
Adina, Valentina Fleer
Nemorino, Alexander Lewis
Belcore, Ao Li
Giannetta, Abigail Santos Villalobos
Dulcamara, Sidney Outlaw

Production Team:
Conductor, Martin Katz
Director, Nicola Bowie
Concept Designer, Erik Flatmo
Costume Designer, Ulises Alcala
Lighting Designer, Mark Gilmore

For more info: www.Merola.org

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