From will-they/won’t-they nail-biters, to epic love stories, it’s hard to beat a great romantic comedy – especially when it features a star-studded cast and unforgettable music. You can expect all that, and more, when Irish National Opera brings its new production of L’elisir d’amore, Gaetano Donizetti’s beloved opera, to Dublin, Wexford and Cork next month, for a run of highly anticipated performances.

For star soprano Claudia Boyle – widely regarded as one of the finest Irish opera singers of her generation – stepping into the role of L’elisir d’amore’s Adina once again will be particularly special.

“I have done it a couple of times before in the past,” she says. “The last time I did this opera I was in Oslo, and I was pregnant. So coming back to it now – with my daughter about to turn six – is actually bringing back lovely memories. It’s funny, when your life has completely changed!”

As Claudia notes, L’elisir d’amore – which originally premiered in Milan in 1832 – is “charming, funny”, and perfect for “your first outing into opera.”

“First and foremost, it’s a really nice story about young love,” she elaborates. “It’s about these two young people, Adina and Nemorino [performed by Seoul-born tenor Duke Kim]. She’s a landowner, and he’s this humble local guy. They’re good enough friends, but she doesn’t really see what’s right under her nose…

“As the story progresses, it’s very funny,” she continues. “He tries to take a love potion, but it’s not really a love potion – it’s just wine! He ends up signing up for the army to get more money, because he thinks this love potion is working. But obviously then for Adina, as soon as you don’t have something, you realise that you want it!”

This new production of L’elisir d’amore will also be exploring a fresh new setting – meaning those who have seen the opera in the past can expect a completely unique experience this time around.

“It can be lovely to set an opera in the period it’s written in, and you can get really traditional productions of opera, which I love,” Claudia reflects. “But to have opera evolve, it’s great to have different productions. This is an almost Wild West setting – my dresses are very Gone With The Wind!”

Having performed in plenty of iconic operas across her remarkable career, Claudia knows that every role comes with its own unique challenges – and Adina is no exception.

“Donizetti is a real bel canto composer, which is a certain style in Italian opera,” she says. “It has these beautiful soaring melodies, that have real sincerity and humanity in them. But it also has a lot of coloratura – which are really quick, exciting passages of vocal acrobatics. You need to have great agility!

“So it’s the best of both worlds, really,” she adds. “And that makes it interesting for the listener too.”

But the role has its challenges from a “character perspective” too, she points out.

“Obviously Nemorino loves her, and he’s a very lovable character, but Adina’s the one really shunning his affections,” she explains. “So the challenge is to make her likeable, and bring the audience onside. You have to make them feel invested in these two people, and want them to get together – rather than being disappointed that they do get together!”

For the Co. Dublin-raised soprano, getting to perform in Ireland is something she always relishes, and she’s been encouraged to see how companies like Irish National Opera have been making this “slightly niche artform” increasingly accessible to Irish audiences over the past few years. Of course, Claudia’s also playing her own role in bringing this music to the masses, as the presenter of the Weekend Classics show on RTÉ lyric fm.

“Some people might have a preconception about opera, that it’s not for them,” she remarks. “But look at film – some of the most iconic moments in movies have opera soundtracks to them, and that’s because it’s just so heightened. It’s the kind of music that really makes the hair stand up on your arms. It really touches the soul.

“Opera is all around us – it’s just about paying attention to it,” she adds. “And then saying, ‘Do you know what? I’m going to go take the chance, and see what it’s like.’ If you have that open attitude to it, I promise, you won’t be disappointed – especially with an opera like this.”

• L’elisir d’amore is coming to The Gaiety Theatre, Dublin (May 25-31); the National Opera House, Wexford (June 4); and Cork Opera House (June 7).

 

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