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Burnaby Lyric Opera stages L'elisir d'amore

Gaetano Donizett's popular comic opera is onstage at the Shadbolt Centre Feb. 23 to March 2
L'elisir d'amore, Burnaby Lyric Opera
Aaron Durand (Belcore), Kallie Clayton (Adina) and Sergio Augusto (Nemorino) in Burnaby Lyric Opera's L'elisir d'amore.

He loves her. She doesn’t know he exists. It’s time to uncork “the elixir of love.”

Yes, opera fans, Gaetano Donizetti’s popular comic opera L’elisir d’amore (The Elixir of Love) is coming soon to a stage near you: the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, to be exact. Burnaby Lyric Opera is staging the production from Feb. 23 to March 2.

The opera follows the story of Nemorino (played by tenor Sergio Augosto), a poor peasant who is in love with the beautiful, wealthy landowner Adina (soprano Kallie Clayton) – but she doesn’t know he exists. Adding to his dilemma, Nemorino has a rival, Sergeant Belcore (baritone Aaron Durand), who’s openly courting Adina.

Just in time, along comes a travelling medicine man, Dr. Dulcamara (bass Michael MacKinnon), with an “elixir of love” that may or may not fix everything – but not before the story has travelled a road of lovers’ quarrels, reconciliations and romantic confusion.

The production also features soprano Isabella Halladay as Giannetta, Adina’s friend.

It’s directed by Sarah Pelzer, stage director of Vancouver Opera’s Young Artist Program, and music direction is by Angus Kellett, who’ll be familiar to Burnaby Lyric Opera audiences from his work on its productions of La Boheme, Carmen and Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville).

Burnaby Lyric Opera is an intermediate professional opera company that presents B.C.’s up-and-coming young opera singers in leading roles, serving as a “jumping-off point” for young opera singers on their way to the major stages of the opera world.

L’elisir d’amore is onstage Feb. 23, 28 and March 2 at 8 p.m., with 2 p.m. matinees on Feb. 25 and 27.

Tickets are $36 regular, or $15 for youth for all evening performances, and $15 for all matinee seats. Buy through tickets.shadboltcentre.com or 604-205-3000.

For more on the opera company, see www.burnabylyricopera.com.