At a press conference at the Croatian National Theatre Split, the opera L'elisir d'amore was presented, which the Opera of the Split National Theatre will premiere on Saturday, March 1. Gaetano Donizetti’s comic opera, under the baton of Maestro Veton Marevci and directed by Goran Golovko, will be performed in the premiere by soloists Gabriela Hrženjak, Roko Radovan, Matija Meić, Joško Tranfić, and Maja Andrijolić, along with the Choir and Orchestra of the HNK Split Opera and students from the Drama Department of the Arts Academy in Split.
The first repeat performances are scheduled for March 3, 4, 5, and 6, featuring singers Neda Pejković, Josip Švagelj, Marko Lasić, Felipe Čudina Begović, and Rahela Ujević.
Romantic and humorous, sentimental and charming, the story of the simple Nemorino and his attempts to win over Adina is among the most beautiful and beloved examples of opera buffa and a prime example of bel canto. The popularity of this brilliantly witty musical-scenic joke has continued uninterrupted since its premiere in 1832 at Milan's Teatro alla Canobbiana. The rustic Italian village from the early 19th century, where librettist Felice Romani set the opera’s plot, becomes a recognizable bustling environment of a modern tourist city in Goran Golovko’s directorial vision, where the characters are no longer villagers harvesting grain but rather apartment rental owners and service staff.
Maestro Veton Marevci introduced the soloists, mostly younger local singers, with only the celebrated world-renowned baritone Matija Meić not debuting in this opera role. "This approach to selecting singers is a significant achievement, even an innovation in our Opera's production work. These singers represent the future, or rather, the present of the Split Opera. The title itself is both humorous and sentimental, with the right measure of pathos, and presented in a modern direction with this cast, it promises a real operatic treat for viewers of all generations. Even someone attending for the first time can fall in love with opera. The plot is simple, and the characters are clearly defined in both the music and the text," emphasized Maestro Marevci.
Director Goran Golovko said, "I believe we have found a way that the audience will recognize as an attractive whole that will speak about us here and now, about the specificities of Split or our county, the entire Adriatic coast. We relocated the plot from an early 19th-century Italian village to the eastern Adriatic coast at the end of the first quarter of the 21st century. This includes apartment renters, rowdy young tourists, mass tourism, consumerism, and our gullibility regarding rejuvenation and health enhancement products. Without revealing too much, I think we have found ways that will be interesting even to the younger audience. Matija Meić, as an experienced seasoned baritone, has achieved a very intriguing comedic and complete role, and Marko Lasić is no less impressive in his own way in the same role of Sergeant Belcore. I must highlight the great professionalism and willingness to take on challenges of the younger cast members, Gabriela Hrženjak, Neda Pejković, Roko Radovan, and Josip Švagelj. It’s a great pleasure to collaborate with them due to their openness to suggestions and experimentation. This also certainly applies to Joško Tranfić, who is only slightly older than them. I think the performance will be very attractive with the set design by Marina Gozze and costumes by Mladen Radovniković, along with the video work by Darko Škrobonja."