Opera Under the Stars
 

Elixir of Love- Gaetano Donizetti

In its heyday, Elixir of Love was the most performed opera of its time for 10 years straight (1838-1848). Today, it still ranks number 13 in most frequently performed operas. Its fun, light, with a strong female protagonist and some catchy tunes. And now we can finally perform it for you!

 

Our story begins in a small village around 1830. Adina is a local woman who owns a farm. She is admired by many in the town for her beauty and wealth. A group of soldiers arrive and their sergeant, Belcore, gives Adina a rose and tries to woo her with references to classical literature. She demures and says she needs time to think (Come Paride vezzoso, Like charming Paride). 

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Belcore has some competition. Nemorino, one of Adina’s farm hands also fancies Adina. Afraid he will lose her to Belcore, Nemorino pulls Adina aside and declare his love for her in the duet Chiedi all’aura lusinghiera (Ask for the flattering breezes). Adina replies politely that she is not terribly interested. Her affections change quickly and Nemorino would be better off spending his time with other pursuits.

 

In the town square, a fabulous stranger has appeared, peddling bottles of mysterious elixirs. His name is Dr. Dulcamara and he claims to have the cure for all ills. Nemorino gets an idea and asks the “Dr” if he also has Isolde’s Love potion. The Dr. pretends to know what this is and sells Nemorino a small bottle for everything he has in his pockets in Voglio dire (I mean..).

 

Nemorino, takes the potion, which turns out to be just a bottle of alcohol. Drunk, he attempts to get Adina to love him. Many shenanigans occurs including him signing up for the army so he can buy a second bottle of elixir, impressing a gaggle of girls with his drunken bravado, and finally noticing a single tear in Adina’s eye which Nemorino takes to mean she really does love him. He sings Una furtiva lagrima, (a furtive tear), reflecting on this tear. Adina finds him and sings Prendi: per me sei libero, (Take it: because of me you are free) .She has brought back Nemorino’s enlistment papers saying he no longer has to serve. But he waits silently, until finally, she confesses that she loves him too. It's a happy ending for the two and Dulcamara makes many love potion sales.

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O fond du temple saint from “The Pearl Fishers” by Bizet

The second most famous thing that Bizet wrote (after Carmen of course). This duet is sung between two friends. At one point, they had both fallen in love with the same woman but vowed to renounce that love for the sake of their friendship. Now, they meet again after many years and reminisce about that moment when they first saw their beloved priestess of Brahma. 

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Sweeney Todd-Stephen Sondheim

Sweeney, the demon barber of Fleet Street, came into existence long before Sondheim wrote a musical about him. Sweeney originated from the Penny Dreadfuls, a serialized style of Victorian fiction. Published in a weekly magazine between 1846-1847, all elements of Sweeney’s character can be found in these original stories. He was popular from the beginning, having his story already converted to play format before the end of the series was even published. Sweeney made his way to the musical stage in 1973 and is a beloved musical to this day.

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Sweeney Todd arrives back on the shores of London with a young sailor, named Anthony, he has managed to befriend. He tells the sailor a bit about his sad history. He had a wife who was lusted after by a corrupt judge. The situation ended in tragedy. Sweeney then makes his way to a pie shop. Here is greeted by the widows, Mrs. Lovett, who laments her lack of both meat and customers (Worst Pies in London). Mrs. Lovett then tells Sweeney about the tragic story of the man who used to live above the shop. Turns out, that former tenant was Sweeney! He knows all about the sad story of his wife poisoning herself to escape the clutches of this judge and leaving behind their then-infant daughter Johanna. He swears revenge on the judge as Mrs. Lovett reunites him with his old straight razors from his days as a barber.

 

Meanwhile, Anthony has been walking around town and spies a beautiful girl singing in a window. He is immediately enamored, unaware that this is his friend Sweeney’s daughter, locked inside the home of the judge, (Johanna).

 

In his attempts to get closer to the judge, Sweeney challenges another barber to a competition and wins handily. Later, the competitor reveals that his is Sweeney’s old assistant and demands to be paid half his income for life. Sweeney kills him by slitting his throat with the straight razor. As Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett try to figure out how to dispose of the body, Mrs. Lovett has an idea that will help both Sweeney and her pie shop business, (A Little Priest).

 

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Candide- Bernstein

Candide is a comic operetta based on the novella of the same name by Voltaire. The story is bleak but there is much humor in Bernstein's writing.

The opera opens with Cunegonde and Candide among other students at the castle in Westphalia. Their teacher, Pangloss, discusses how to be happy and the students buy in deeply. Happiness is the goal of life. But Candide is the illegitimate nephew of the Baron while Cunegonde is a true heir. Candide is in love with Cunegonde and eventually they profess their love to each other and imagine their happy life together, though it doesn’t seem like they have much in common (Oh Happy We). The Baron is not thrilled as Candide is of lower status and banishes Candide from the castle. He ends up being forced to join the Bulgar army who attacks the castle killing Cunegonde and the other students.

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Or so Candide thinks. It turns out that Cunegonde is not dead. She has escaped to Paris where she survives pandering two two wealthy men (on different, mutually agreed upon days of course.) She sings Glitter and Be Gay, contemplating the choices she has made in order to survive. Candide eventually finds Cunegonde and they are shocked that the other survived (You Were Dead).

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Much more chaos ensues in these characters’ lives. There are reunions, goodbyes, more accidental murders, and journeys to the far reaches of the earth. Cunegonde and Candide run into each other one final time at a masked ball and Cunegonde tries to rob Candide, not recognizing him. The masks fall away and after some shock, the illusion of living and idealized life is shattered. Life is just life. With his remaining money, Candide buys a farm and resolves to marry Cunegonde and they will work hard with what little they have to cultivate their life, Make our Garden Grow.

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Thank you!!

We want to thank all of you for joining us this evening. We hope you had an enjoyable evening with us. Cheers!

 

​While this concert is free, we do take donations. It is with your support that we can continue our mission - to make opera accessible to everyone. If you would like to donate, you can place cash in the jars on the tables near the stage. We also accept payment via Vemno @overdressedduo. For a check donation or if you would like a receipt for your donation, please speak with one of our volunteers wearing the pink volunteer lanyards. We thank you for your support.

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​Overdressed is a 501c3 non-profit organization.

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