Watch: Roberto Alagna on Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore
The French tenor discusses his forthcoming role as Nemorino.
Laurent Pelly’s production of Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore returns to Covent Garden on 13 November, starring Roberto Alagna in the role of Nemorino. A playful love story set in a sun-drenched Italian village, it is the most frequently performed of all Donizetti’s operas.
For the revival, Roberto will sing the role of the naïve but loveable peasant besotted with beautiful landowner Adina (sung on this occasion by Polish soprano Aleksandra Kurzak). Roberto first performed the role at the Vienna State Opera in 1992.
Listen to Alagna sing the famous aria “Una furtiva lagrima”.
We recently caught up with him ahead of his forthcoming performance to find out what he enjoys about the role of Nemorino and how he feels about returning to both the piece and The Royal Opera.
Roberto’s career was launched following his acclaimed performance as Roméo in Nicolas Joël’s Royal Opera production of Roméo et Juliette in 1994. Since then the tenor has sung to acclaim at the world’s major opera houses, forging a reputation as one of opera’s top artists. Earlier this year, Roberto sang the role of Rodolfo in John Copley’s much-loved production of La bohème, appearing alongside his wife Angela Gheorghiu to celebrate their 20th anniversary of meeting.
I'm looking forward to seeing this production and seeing Alagna too. Yeah, he may be the oldest Nemorino in town but he still has a youthful enthusiasm on stage that belies his age.
Age has little to dow with it - I saw Pavarotti do it in his mid fifties! He was fabulous and the best sung Nemorino of my experience
Hmm How about Alfredo Kraus, Nicolai Gedda and Carlo Bergonzi in the role? The all passed their age of 20, yet they were wonderful Nemorinos at Covent Garden!!!!!!!
Where's the dog?