New Philharmonic starts 2025 with Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love on Jan. 25-26
A concert presentation of this comic opera features Alisa Jordheim (soprano), AddieRose Brown (mezzo-soprano), James Judd (tenor), Jonathan Wilson (baritone) and David Govertsen (bass).
What is the best way to start 2025? It is to attend a concert featuring the music from one of the most popular operas in the world and to escape the cold weather by immersing in the warmth and passion of wonderful Italian music.
New Philharmonic, the only professional orchestra based in DuPage County, is happy to start 2025 with a concert presentation of the highly entertaining romantic comic opera The Elixir of Love composed by Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti. Under the baton of Music Director and Conductor Kirk Muspratt, New Philharmonic will present Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 25 and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, January 26 at the McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn.
The Elixir of Love, or L'elisir d'amore, is a comic melodrama in two acts, which Donizetti wrote in just six weeks. Felice Romani wrote the libretto for L’elisir d’amore after Eugène Scribe's libretto for Daniel Auber's Le philtre. The Elixir of Love premiered at Teatro della Canobbiana in Milan in 1832. Interestingly, between the years 1838 and 1848 it was the most performed opera in Italy; however, it’s still one of the most frequently performed operas in the world.
“It is recognized as one of the finest examples of all bel canto opera, a style of opera where the primary focus of the music is on the beautiful vocal lines,” says the press release. “Today it is one of the most frequently performed of all Donizetti's operas and has been in the top 15 operas on the Operabase list of the most-performed operas worldwide multiple times.”
It’s not a surprise that Maestro Muspratt chose the music from this opera to start the New Philharmonic’s journey into the year of 2025. The audience needs the beauty, the charm and the elegance of Italian music, and Donizetti, with his versatility and mastery of the bel canto style, is a great composer whose music is best to enjoy during this cold and chilly season.
The Elixir of Love is a story of a poor waiter Nemorino (James Judd, tenor) who fell in love with a rich and alluring hotel owner Adina (Alisa Jordheim, soprano). He doesn’t know how to win her heart and decides to buy a bottle of a magic elixir from a quack salesman, Dulcamara (David Govertsen, bass), to make Adina fall in love with him. Adina’s friend and town gossip Giannetta (AddieRose Brown, mezzo soprano), and the egocentric Sergeant Belcore (Jonathan Wilson, baritone) help stir the pot of humor and emotion in this entertaining bel canto opera, sung in Italian with English subtitles.
Soprano Alisa Jordheim, who will perform the role of Adina, has appeared with New Philharmonic in the “Merry Widow” (2020) and “A Night of Broadway and Opera” (2021). Lauded by the San Francisco Chronicle as “vocally resplendent” and possessing “impeccable coloratura,” this season she makes several role debuts: Violetta in “La Traviata” with Opera Western Reserve, Adina in “The Elixir of Love” with the New Philharmonic, “Le Fée in Cendrillon” with Opera Orlando, Daria prima donna in “Viva la Mamma” with Florentine Opera, and the Young Woman in Cipullo’s “After Life for Music for Remembrance” in Seattle and San Francisco.
Tenor James Judd, who will perform Nemorino, has been seen with New Philharmonic in “Merry Widow” (2020) and the concert opera “South Pacific” (2023). He also performed with the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Western New York Chamber Orchestra, and The AIMS Festival Orchestra. Some of his operatic roles include Monostatos in “Die Zauberflöte,” Ferrando in “Così fan tutte,” the title role in “La Clemenza di Tito,” Alfredo in “Die Fledermaus,” Asgar in the U.S. premiere of “Arshin mal alan” and Claude in the world premiere of “The Fall of Stag Lee.”
Bass David Govertsen, who will perform the role of Dulcamara, appeared in New Philharmonic’s sold-out production of “The Mikado” (2017). He made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2011 as the Herald in “Otello” with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Riccardo Muti. Locally he has performed such roles as the title roles in “Don Giovanni,” “Le Nozze di Figaro,” “Don Pasquale” and “Gianni Schicchi.” Govertsen is an alumnus of both the Santa Fe Opera and Central City Opera apprentice programs and holds degrees from Northwestern University, Northern Illinois University and the College of DuPage. He is also a former member of the Ryan Center at Lyric.
Mezzo soprano AddieRose Brown, who will perform the role of Giannetta, previously covered the role of Nellie for New Philharmonic’s “South Pacific” (2023). Her 24/25 season also brings a string of exciting engagements including a company debut with Cambridge Chamber Ensemble where she portrays The Spy in Menotti’s rarely performed opera “Labyrinth,” and the beginning of a Fellowship with Madison Avenue Baptist, NYC, in their Emerging Artist Program. She will also join the Hudson Valley Singers as the mezzo soloist in John Corigliano’s darkly lyrical “Fern Hill.” Brown is the recipient of a dual First Prize and Audience Favorite Award in Sinfonietta Bel Canto’s Voice Competition, as well as Pittsburgh Concert Society’s Wickline Seaman Memorial Grant.
Baritone Jonathan Wilson, who will perform the role of Sergeant Belcore, was last seen as Billis in New Philharmonic’s concert presentation of “South Pacific” (2023). He has been praised by the Chicago Classical Review as a "superb actor" with a "resounding and luxurious" voice. His performance credits include Robert Dziekański in “I will fly like a bird” (Plant, Wainwright), The Poet in "When Adonis Calls” (Borzoni, de los Santos, Dillard) and “Hannah-Before in As One” (Kaminsky, Campbell, Reed). He has also performed as the title character in Tom Waits' and Kathleen Brennan's adaptation of “Woyzeck” with Chicago Fringe Opera and has premiered many roles for new chamber operas and musical theater productions throughout the Chicago area. Wilson is also a frequent singer with the Chicago Symphony Chorus, Grant Park Chorus and Lyric Opera Chorus.
With such a great group of talented soloists and under the baton of Maestro Muspratt, New Philharmonic will find the best way to present the music from the Elixir of Love, Donizetti’s opera that is celebrated for its vocal challenges and emotional depth.
Tickets are $67. For tickets visit https://atthemac.org/events/the-elixir-of-love-by-gaetano-donizetti/ or call 630-942-4000. The McAninch Box Office is open Tuesday – Saturday, noon – 6 p.m. and two hours prior to performance.
The Elixir of Love is sponsored by Frank Modruson & Lynne Shigley. Media Sponsor is 90.9 FM WDCB Public Radio.
Natalia Dagenhart
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