Netrebko Villazon d’Amore

Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazon team up together again in Donizetti’s comic opera L’Elisir d’Amore (The Elixir of Love), with the Wiener Staatsoper, on a newly released DVD.

Originally performed in 2005 at the Vienna State Opera, the production uses a classic Otto Schenk set that helps make this recording one of the best versions of this opera. Although there are several great DVD’s of L’Elisir d’Amore already, the striking thing that stands out here are the superb acting abilities (and chemistry) of Netrebko and Villazon. It presents opera as theater evoking a whole new interpretation of the opera.

Gaetano Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore was first performed in Milan, in 1832, and is the most performed Donizetti opera today. Rare among opera repertoire, this is a comedy and a very funny one at that. In the Italian tradition, it’s a battle of the sexes in a competition for love. The music is exciting and the classic aria, Una Furtiva Lagrima, is enchanting.

With Netrebko as Adina and Villazon as Nemorino, supported by Leo Nucci, this version is a worthy addition to any video library for opera enthusiasts. The virtuoso singing, realistic acting, and superb staging help to make this DVD an appealing introduction to opera for the uninitiated. It’s sung in Italian with a menu of selectable subtitles in 5 languages. It truly is an elixir of love.

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