04.30.2021 ENS Opera Theatre Drive-In "Elixir of Love"

THE ELIXIR OF LOVE (L’ELISIR D’AMORE)

by Gaetano Donizetti A Live Drive-In Opera

WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY OPERA THEATRE Nicholas Provenzale, Director

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021 SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2021 MADELEINE WING ADLER THEATRE PARKING LOT 8:30 PM

Cast Adina ....................................................................................................................... Sydney Szwarc Nemorino .................................................................................................................. Michael Bilik Belcore ..................................................................................................................... Richard Cross Dulcamara .............................................................................................................. Caleb Deutsch Giannetta ........................................................................................................... Sofia Bobrysheva Ensemble ..................................................................................................................... Kiley Aikey Drew Ference Joe Galdi Andrew Gifford Matthew Johnson Jamie Quinter Mike Rosati Joe Seifrit Giannetta Cover.................................................................................................... Jaqueline Kelly

Artistic Team Pianist .......................................................................................................................... Micah Leary Chorus Master.................................................................................................. Matthew Johnson Costumes and set pieces are generously on loan from the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Chester County.

Audio/Visual Team Vision Technical Group .................................................................................... Nathan Schlegel Recording Engineer/Video Technician.................................................................. Robert Rust Audio/Video Technician ................................................................................Jonathan Lightcap

Special thanks to Laurie Bernotsky, Executive Vice President and Provost; Jeff Osgood, Deputy Provost and Vice President for Academic Operations; Chris Hanning, Dean of the Wells School of Music; Emily Bullock, Chair of the Vocal and Keyboard Department; Joshua Browns, Director of Venue Management; Matt Miller, Events Coordinator; Kaysey Davis, Planning and Logistics Manager; Dan Williams of the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Chester County; Dan Kadushin, Digital Media Center Manager.

THE STORY Italy, Early 19th Century Act I Nemorino, a naive villager, is in love with the beautiful farm owner Adina. Reading to the villagers, Adina tells the story of how Tristan won the heart of Isolde by drinking a magic love potion. A regiment of soldiers arrives, led by the vain Sergeant Belcore, who immediately pursues Adina and asks her to marry him. Adina declares that she is in no rush to get married but promises to consider it. Alone with Nemorino, Adina tells him that he would be better off taking care of his sick uncle than trying to win her love. She suggests that he change affections every single day, like she does. Nemorino reminds her that it is impossible to forget true love.

Dr. Dulcamara, a traveling salesman, arrives in the village advertising a potion that can cure anything. Nemorino asks him if he sells the elixir of love described in Adina’s book.

Dulcamara claims he does and sells Nemorino an elixir that is actually cheap wine. He explains that Nemorino will have to wait until the next day—after the doctor leaves—to see the results. Nemorino immediately drinks it and begins to feel the effect of the “potion.” He believes he will be irresistible to Adina the next day and acts indifferent towards her. Surprised and hurt, Adina flirts with Belcore. When orders arrive for the sergeant to leave town, Adina agrees to marry him immediately. Nemorino begs her to wait one more day, but she dismisses him and invites the entire village to her wedding.

Nemorino desperately calls for the doctor’s help.

Act II As they celebrate the forthcoming wedding, Adina and Dulcamara sing a song to the guests. Adina wonders why Nemorino isn’t there. Nemorino asks Dulcamara for another bottle of the elixir, hoping to speed up the effects. Without any money, Nemorino enlists in Belcore’s regiment to pay for another bottle. Giannetta tells her friend a secret: Nemorino’s uncle has died and left him a fortune. The intoxicated Nemorino suddenly finds himself surrounded by Giannetta and her friend. Unaware of the news that he is now a rich man, he believes the elixir is finally working. Adina becomes jealous when she sees him with the other women. Dulcamara boasts about the power of his elixir to Adina, but she explains that she can win Nemorino on her own.

After noticing a tear on Adina’s cheek when she saw him with the other women, Nemorino is sure that she has feelings for him. Adina returns to tell Nemorino that she has bought back his enlistment contract. When he again acts indifferent, she finally confesses that she loves him. Belcore appears to find the two about to embrace and bitterly declares that thousands of other women waiting for him. Dulcamara brags to the crowd that his miraculous potion really is an elixir of love.

UPCOMING WELLS SCHOOL OF MUSIC EVENTS For full event details visit wcupa.edu/music or call (610) 436-2739

COVID-19 STATEMENT In Person Audiences Are Not Permitted for Spring 2021 Events Saturday, May 1, 2021, 3:00 PM Jazz Combos & Statesmen Jazz Ensemble Concert Dan Chrerry, director Virtual livestream.com/wcupa

Sunday, May 2, 2021, 3:00 PM Wind Ensemble Concert Andrew Yozviak, director Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center

Monday, May 3, 2021, 7:30 PM Collegium Musicum Concert Mark Rimple, director Virtual Zoom (https://bit.ly/3edH4tK)

Wednesday, May 5, 2021, 8:15 PM Chamber Winds Concert Andrew Yozviak, director Philips Autograph Library Philips Memorial Building

Thursday, May 6, 2021, 8:15 PM Bach Celebration Vincent Craig, director Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center

Friday, May 7, 2021, 7:30 PM Criterions Jazz Ensemble Concert Jonathan Ragonese. director Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall Philips Memorial Building

Saturday, May 8, 2021, 8:15 PM Spring Choral Festival David P. DeVenney & Ryan Kelly, directors Virtual livestream.com/wcupa

Sunday, May 9, 2021, 3:00 PM Trivolti Flute Ensemble Concert Kimberley Reighley, director Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center

*Tickets required for this event.

Events at the Wells School of Music are often supported by individual donors and organizations.

Contributions to the Wells School of Music may be made out to: WCU Foundation, 202 Carter Drive, West Chester, PA 19382 Please include “School of Music Deans Fund” in the memo line.

For further information, please call (610) 436-2868 or visit wcufoundation.org A majority of performances are available to watch via live stream at Facebook.com/ArtsAtWCUPA and LiveStream.com/wcupa.

Mr. Robert Rust, Audio & Visual Technician Steinway & Sons Piano Technical, Tuning and Concert Preparations by Gerald P. Cousins, RPT If you do not intend to save your program, please recycle it in the baskets at the exit doors.

The Wells School of Music | West Chester University of Pennsylvania Dr. Christopher Hanning, Dean