The Elixir of Love

Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling

Miranda Heggie

four stars

FOR a 17-date Scottish tour, Scottish Opera’s new staging of The Elixir of Love sees Donizetti’s early 19th century masterpiece set nearly a century later, in a 1920s English country garden. The large hedges which form much of the set provide an innovative canvas for recounting the tale, with cast members peeking their heads through little holes in the foliage, and hiding behind them. Exuding a real sense of fun, the little quirks really work here, with a joke about the substance of the elixir in question likely to go down particularly well with Scottish audiences. Director Oliver Platt’s production is one which strikes a rare balance of being genuinely funny yet beautifully sincere, all the while underpinned by an artistic excellence from those on stage and in the pit, with Kelly Rourke’s pithy English translation delivered with clarity and conviction.

Scottish Opera’s Head of Music Derek Clark’s instrumental arrangement sees Donizetti’s orchestra score distilled down to the unusual, yet apt, combination of string trio, guitar and French horn. Despite reducing the number of players from 53 to just 5, there’s a vast range of colour in the music, the horn lending it a well-rounded warmth.

Ellie Laugharne sings the role of Adina convincingly, with a rich, potent voice, and Scottish Opera emerging artist Elgan Llyr Thomas gives a persuasive and tender depiction of her lover Nemorino. Baritone James Cleverton shines as the larger-than-life quack doctor Dr Dulcarama, giving an entertaining and vocally astute performance in his Scottish Opera debut.

At Elgin TownHall tonight, the Macphail Centre, Ullapool on Thursday and An Lanntair, Stornoway on Saturday.