YALE OPERA Gerald Martin Moore, director
L’elisir d’amore The Elixir of Love
Friday, May 6, 2022 | 7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 8, 2022 | 2:00 p.m. Morse Recital Hall in Sprague Memorial Hall
Robert Blocker, Dean
Yale Opera presents
doniz etti
L’elisir d’amore (The Elixir of Love)
may 6 & 8, 2022 Morse Recital Hall in Sprague Memorial Hall
gerald martin moore music director & pianist nicola bowie stage director rebecca l. welles costume designer doug harry lighting designer henry rodriguez projection designer karen root properties designer curtis serafin chorus master
Yale Opera
L’elisir d’amore (The Elixir of Love)
Music by Gaetano Donizetti Libretto by Felice Romani Performed in Italian with projected English translations
cast Adina
Magdalena KuŹma, soprano f Nicole Leung, soprano su
Giannetta
amalia crevani, soprano
Nemorino
jonghyun park, tenor f jordan costa, tenor su
Sergeant Belcore
laureano quant, baritone f samuel kidd, baritone su
Dr. Dulcamara
korin thomas-smith, baritone
Ensemble
Anneliese Klenetsky, soprano Greer Lyle, soprano Elana Bell, mezzo-soprano Allison Fahey, mezzo-soprano Seiyoung Kim, tenor Sergio Martínez Salazar, bass Connor Holland, trumpet
Synopsis
On Adina’s farm near New Haven, CT, in 1942, a group of farmhands proceed with their morning work. Shy Nemorino pines for the successful and beautiful Adina from a distance, sad about being too poor to offer her anything but his love. Adina shares the story of Tristan and Isolde and how Tristan won Isolde’s affection with a love potion. Nemorino is convinced such a potion could help him. The pompous yet dashing Sergeant Belcore arrives, flirts with all the girls, and then declares his passion for Adina. When he asks her to marry him, she’s flattered but refuses the offer. The farmhands return to work, and Nemorino finds the courage to declare his love for Adina. She laughs at him, telling him she is too fickle to settle down and he should play the field. Steadfast, Nemorino says his feelings are unwavering. Dr. Dulcamara, a vaudevillian performer/ conman, arrives with fanfare to entertain the village workers, but, in reality, to sell his phony “Elisir d’amore,” which he claims will cure all manner of ailments. Nemorino asks him if he knows of Isolde’s love potion. Dulcamara, after realizing that he may be able to make another sale, responds that he in fact invented it and promptly sells a bottle to Nemorino, but warns him that it will take at least a day to take effect. He drinks it at once, not realizing that it is, in fact, just fortified wine. The effect of the alcohol is immediate. Certain that he will win Adina’s love, Nemorino begins to treat her indifferently. To get even, Adina begins to flirt with Belcore and finally agrees to marry him. When Belcore receives orders to report for duty at once, he and Adina decide to wed that very evening. As the others celebrate by drinking and dancing, a despondent Nemorino cries out for Dulcamara’s help.
intermission At the wedding party, Adina and Dulcamara entertain the guests with a duet. Annoyed because Nemorino is not in attendance, Adina delays signing the marriage contract. Nemorino enters and asks for the doctor’s help. He says Nemorino must double the amount of potion. Short on the cash needed to buy it, Nemorino is in despair. Sgt. Belcore arrives and, realizing that Nemorino needs cash, persuades him to join his regiment, thereby giving Nemorino the enlistment money he needs and getting his rival out of the way. Nemorino rushes off to buy another bottle of “elixir.” The village girls learn that Nemorino’s rich uncle has died, leaving him a large inheritance. Nemorino stumbles in, reeling from the effects of the “elixir” (fortified wine). The girls try to seduce him, which Nemorino, unaware of his inheritance, attributes to Dulcamara’s potion. Adina sees Nemorino enjoying the attention from the girls and becomes jealous. When Dulcamara unwittingly tells her Nemorino spent his last penny to try to win her love, Adina becomes determined to win him for herself. Nemorino returns, sad at the thought of leaving his village and Adina for the army. He reflects that he saw a tear in her eye when he was with the other girls. Adina joins him and tells him that she has bought back his enlistment papers. She says she loves him and asks for his forgiveness, and they embrace. Jilted, Belcore quickly moves on to other romantic prospects. With Nemorino now loved and rich, all join in praising Dulcamara and his magic elixir.
Artist Profiles
Gerald Martin Moore Director of Yale Opera, music direction & piano Gerald Martin Moore is an internationally renowned singing teacher and vocal consultant. He has worked in such houses as Covent Garden, La Scala, the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco, and Opera de Bastille in Paris, as well as the Aix-en-Provence, Edinburgh, and Glyndebourne Festivals.
Nicola Bowie stage director
Nicola danced professionally with English National Ballet before joining English National Opera as Head of Movement and Dance (1980–98); in this capacity she choreographed over 40 productions. Since 1998 she has pursued a freelance career as a director and choreographer, working at New York City Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Glimmerglass Since moving to NYC in 2008 he has been on Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Washington National the teaching faculty of the Metropolitan Opera’s Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Dallas Opera, Lindemann program and Curtis Institute of Boston Lyric Opera, Virginia Opera, Los Angeles Music. He regularly gives masterclasses at Opera, Seattle Opera, Portland Opera, Eugene Glyndebourne, Merola, Washington National Opera, Arizona Opera, San Diego Opera, Opera Opera, and is on the regular teaching faculty Santa Barbara, Graz Oper, Oper Bonn, Semper at Music Academy of the West, Lyric Opera Oper Dresden, Bavarian State Opera Munich, of Chicago’s Ryan Opera Center, and the Grand Opera Geneve, Scottish Opera, Korean Ravinia Steans Music Institute. National Opera, National Center for the Performing Arts, Beijing, Teatro Real Madrid, A frequent recitalist, most notably with Renée Liceu Opera Barcelona, Sao Carlos Opera Lisbon, Fleming, he has performed before such digni- Opera Zuid Maastrict, San Francisco Opera taries as President Obama, President Clinton Merola program, Opera McGill Montreal, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, HRH University of Southern California, California Prince Charles, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, State University Long Beach, Chapman and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Gerald University, and the Royal College of Music, was recently featured accompanying Renée London. In fall 2017 she launched a Period Fleming in the soundtrack for the movie Bel Etiquette master class series at UCLA titled Canto and also coached Julianne Moore who “Dance, Dress and Decorum 1550–1910,” which plays the role of Roxanne. she has regularly presented at Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Mr. Moore may currently be heard as a regular Program, San Francisco Opera’s Adler and host of the Metropolitan Opera Quiz, and is a Merola Programs, Royal Conservatoire of frequent judge for prestigious vocal competitions, Scotland, Atelier Lyrique L’Opera Montreal, including the Metropolitan Opera National Minnesota Opera, Portland Opera, Opera Santa Council auditions. Barbara, University of Cincinnati CollegeConservatory of Music, New England Conservatory, University of North Texas, and Yale University.
Artist Profiles
Doug Harry lighting designer Doug hails from the United Kingdom and trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama way back in the crazy ’80s! He has travelled the world as a lighting designer for theatre, opera and corporate events. Currently he divides his time between production management and design in the US and Europe. He is very happy to be designing for the Yale Opera program. Henry Rodriguez projection designer Henry Rodriguez’s love of magic, art, and technology has led him to a career as a Projections Designer. From theatre to opera to film, he has designed for the University of Northern Colorado, the Little Theatre of the Rockies, Maine State Music Theatre, and many other places. Currently Henry is a Master of Fine Arts candidate in Projection Design at the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale. As a third-year designer he has had the privilege to design shows both in and out of the school. He looks forward to a fourth year with all his peers, and is currently organizing and looking forward to his next film shoot. In his spare time Henry enjoys working on technology, cars, and baking a variety of desserts. Karen Root properties designer Karen Root is excited to be designing for Yale Opera for the first time. Her theatre credits include: The Tempest (upcoming—Elm Shakespeare), The Mikado (upcoming—Gilbert and Sullivan Light Opera Company), Taste of Fear (Elm Shakespeare), All About Image/We
Are the Elite (NY International Fringe Festival), Great Catherine (Helen Gardiner Phalen Playhouse), Like Mamma Made You (Factory Theatre). Other theatre credits include: The Comedy of Errors, and Elm Shakespeare Youth Festival (Elm Shakespeare), La Ronde (Soulpepper Theatre Company), The Seagull (Stratford Festival of Canada), Pericles, Prince of Tyre (Helen Gardiner Phalen Playhouse), Gianni Schicchi, Suor Angelica and Twelfth Night (University Theatre, Valparaiso). Karen is also an Emmy-nominated and Parent’s Choice Awardwinning production designer. Karen holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honors from University of Toronto. She is based in Westport, CT, where she lives with her husband, three children, and many pets. Rebecca L. Welles costume designer Rebecca L. Welles is pleased to return to Yale Opera. Yale Opera credits include Eugene Onegin, The Magic Flute, Hansel and Gretel, Le pauvre matelot, The Bear, Don Quichotte, La Cenerentola, Le nozze di Figaro, Gianni Schicci, Riders to the Sea, Bon Appitit and Iolanta. Regional credits include Elm Shakespeare Company (Comedy of Errors), Ivoryton Playhouse (Million Dollar Quartet and Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Story), Salt Marsh Opera (I Pagliacci, Magic Flute, La Bohème), Aspen Opera Center (Il barbiere di Siviglia), and Boheme Opera New Jersey (Cavalleria Rusticana, I Pagliacci). Rebecca is also an adjunct professor of performing arts at Eastern Connecticut State University and the resident costume designer for the Educational Center for the Arts. She received her bachelor’s degree in Theatre Technology from Southern Connecticut State University in 2008 and her Master of Fine Arts degree in Design from Yale School of Drama in 2012.
Artist Profiles
Tess Naval production stage manager Tess Naval is very excited to be a part of her sixth production with Yale Opera. Currently based in Chicago, Illinois, her previous credits include Yale Opera’s Fall Scenes (2018, 2019, 2021),The Old Maid and the Thief, Le Rossignol, and Eugene Onegin, as well as Music Theater Works’ The Pirates of Penzance, Filament Theatre’s Gather, and North Park University’s Cendrillon. Tess studied Stage Management at Boston University where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Tess will be joining the 2022–23 Ensemble of Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Ryan Opera Center as its inaugural Stage Manager. In her free time, Tess can always be found with her nose in a good book. She would like to thank her family for their unwavering support. Curtis Serafin chorus master Curtis Serafin’s work as chorus master for this production follows his fourth season as a member of the music staff at Sarasota Opera, where he has played and assisted productions of Tosca, Attila, La Scala di Seta, and Dido & Aeneas. The summer of 2022 will also include a second-year residency as pianist and coach for Così fan tutte at Chicago Summer Opera. Recent summer seasons have included professional fellowships at the Tanglewood Institute, Stephanie Blythe’s Fall Island Vocal Arts Seminar, Manchester Music Festival, and Hawaii Performing Arts Festival. Curtis is a graduate of Warren Jones’s studio at the Manhattan School of Music; this was preceded by the completion of his undergraduate studies in piano performance at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music.
student Profiles
Hometown Education Young Artists Programs
Hometown Education Young Artists Programs Hometown Education Young Artists Programs Hometown Education Young Artists Programs Hometown Education Young Artists Program Hometown Education Young Artists Programs
Hometown Education Young Artists Programs
Elana Bell mezzo-soprano Baltimore, MD B.M. & B.A. Oberlin Conservatory & College M.M. University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Des Moines Metro Opera, Music Academy of the West, Tanglewood Music Center* Jordan Costa tenor Ridgefield, CT B.M. & M.M. Eastman School of Music Music Academy of the West, Si Parla, Si Canta, Glimmerglass Opera* Amalia Crevani soprano Milford, NJ B.M. DePauw University Aspen Opera* Allison Fahey mezzo-soprano Sebastian, FL B.M. Stetson Unversity Seagle Festival, Chautauqua Opera Conservatory* Jonas Jud bass St. Gallen, Switzerland B.M. Conservatorio di Musica Agostino Steffani Castelfranco Veneto Santa Fe Opera, Zurich Opera Studio* Samuel Kidd baritone Ann Arbor, MI B.M. The University of Michigan M.M. University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Wolf Trap Opera, Music Academy of the West, Houston Grand Opera Young Artists’ Vocal Academy, Music Academy of the West* Seiyoung Kim baritone Seoul, South Korea B.M. The Juilliard School M.M. New England Conservatory Santa Fe Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, Houston Grand Opera Young Artists’ Vocal Academy
* Upcoming
student Profiles
Hometown Education Young Artists Programs
Hometown Education Young Artists Programs
Hometown Education Young Artists Programs Hometown Education Young Artists Programs Hometown Education Young Artists Programs Hometown Education Young Artists Programs Hometown Education Young Artists Programs
Anneliese Klenetsky soprano Edison, NJ M.M. & B.M. The Juilliard School Music Academy of the West, Chautauqua Voice Program, Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute* Magdalena Kuźma soprano New York, NY B.M. & B.A. Oberlin Conservatory & College Merola Opera, Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute, Houston Grand Opera Young Artists’ Vocal Academy, Music Academy of the West, Carnegie SongStudio, Chautauqua Voice Program, Santa Fe Opera*, Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Program* Nicole Leung soprano Toronto, Canada B.M. New England Conservatory M.M. Yale School of Music Songfest, Long Reach Opera Workshop, Calgary Opera* Greer Lyle soprano Carrollton, GA Georgia State University Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Opera North* Sergio Martínez Salazar bass Bogotá, Colombia B.M. Juan N. Corpas University (Bogotá, Colombia) M.M. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Glimmerglass Opera* Jonghyun Park tenor Seoul, South Korea B.M. Seoul National University M.M. Yale School of Music Merola Opera* Laureano Quant baritone Barranquilla, Colombia B.M. Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Bogotá, Colombia) M.M. Manhattan School of Music Merola Opera, Carnegie SongStudio, Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Ryan Opera Center*
student Profiles
Hometown Education Young Artists Programs
Korin Thomas-Smith baritone Toronto, Canada B.M. & M.M. University of Toronto Music Academy of the West, Aspen Music Festival, Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute* * Upcoming
Yale Opera Production Staff nicola bowie Stage Director
Erika Niemi Manager
Rebecca l. welles Costume Designer
Tess Naval Production Stage Manager
Doug Harry Lighting Designer & Master Electrician
Ana Mora Assistant Stage Manager
Henry Rodriguez Projection Designer & Operator
Karen Root Properties Designer & Manager
Anna Smigelskaya Surtitle Operator & Rehearsal Pianist
Kayla Mainuli Wardrobe Manager
Curtis Serafin Chorus Master & Rehearsal Pianist
Special Thanks Shawn Boyle Rich Burkam Wendall K. Harrington Christopher Melillo JJ Penna Adriana Zabala David Geffen School of Drama at Yale Southern Connecticut State University
Upcoming Events at YSM may 7 Yale Philharmonia Peter Oundjian, principal conductor 7:30 p.m. | Woolsey Hall may 9 Guitar Chamber Music 4:30 p.m. | Morse Recital Hall may 10 Chamber Music Competition Winners 7:30 p.m. | Morse Recital Hall may 12 Bassoonarama 7:30 p.m. | Sudler Recital Hall may 22 Commencement Concert 4:00 p.m. | Morse Recital Hall
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