I'll have what he's having: Donizetti's Elixir of Love

The Salzburg State Theatre (Salzburger Landestheatre) put on an absolutely stunning performance of Gaetano Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore on Tuesday, Jan 11. The tiny stage's revolving floor accommodated a stark but effective set that converted from modern cubicle office to wedding party hall for this modern telling of an age-old theme. Nemorino is a poor little office schlub in love with his gorgeous boss, Adina. She falls for the dashing business man Belcore who also is a soldier and convinces her to marry him before he gets shipped out on duty. Enter the yoga-posing new-agey health guru Dr. Dulcamara, selling love potions (really just Bordeaux wine). Nemorino buys it and drinks it but is then told that it takes 24 hrs to take effect. He spurns Adina and laughs at her, confident the potion will work. But the soldier is to be shipped out early so the wedding is moved up to immediately. In desperation, Nemorino joins the army and pays for more love potion with the money. Meantime Adina's office staff, Giannetta, spreads a rumour to all the cell-phone-texting girls that Nemorino's just inherited a fortune from a rich uncle and is now loaded. They all chase him and Adina is jealous. There's a famous, beautiful tenor aria here by Nemorino that is standard in all tenor repertoire and it was a delight to hear it. Pavel Kolgatin was fantastic in the role as were all the performers. This performance was really well directed and coreographed. Little jokes and pantomimes were going on all over and the leads were flawless in singing and acting. In a duet with the Doctor, Adina keeps singing while attempting to swill beer and light a cigarette, which the Doctor grabs from her. So great to see opera in Salzburg! For a taste, there's a trailer for it on Youtube here.

Wednesday, Jan 12 was a performance by faculty members of the Universität Mozarteum: Piano quartet in c minor op. 15 by Faure, Divertimento " Le baiser de la Fee" by Stravinsky, Duo No. 1 für Violine und Cello by Martinu, and Piano Quartet in g minor Op. 25 by Brahms. The room allowed very live accoustics. The pianist and violist were solid and really excellent. Enrico Bronzi on Cello was a virtuoso, making faces the whole time and playing effortlessly.

Tonight was a cello recital of Bronzi's students. All were really good. So lucky to study at a wonderful facility. There's a huge modern wing at the Mozarteum with sound proof practice rooms.

Mornings this week are spent in coaching sessions with the members of the Manhattan String Quartet. I'm learning a lot. Breakfasts and lunches are included at the hotel and the food is always amazing. Some of us found a good place for cheap, healthy vegetarian dinners across the street called My Indigo.

Mozart's Birthplace

Afternoons so far have been organized with visits (and a lecture) to Mozart's birthplace and the house where the Mozart family lived later, which also houses an archive of original autograph manuscripts and letters written by the family members. Today I saw the original letter Mozart wrote to a priest who was a family friend, to tell him that his mother, Anna Maria, had just died in Paris. A very sober letter from a very young man, usually full of wit and fun.

Pouring rain here. Still need to look at the Mirabel gardens and a giant fortress on the top of a nearby cliff but hopefully when it stops raining.