Yaritza Véliz (Adina), Jonah Hoskins (Nemorino). Photo by Curtis Brown for the Santa Fe Opera

Yaritza Véliz (Adina), Jonah Hoskins (Nemorino), Luke Sutliff (Belcore). Photo by Curtis Brown for the Santa Fe Opera

SFO News:

ESPAÑOLA — In celebration of the season of love, the Santa Fe Opera and Northern New Mexico College invite opera fans and newcomers to enjoy a free film screening of Gaetano Donizetti’s “The Elixir of Love” Feb. 22, 2025, in the Northern New Mexico College (NNMC) Nick Salazar Center for the Arts. This is a high-quality film production of the live performance from the 2024 season. The audience can also enjoy an interactive introduction to “The Elixir of Love” titled, “3, 2, 1, Opera” before the screening.

“I strongly support this amazing performance, which I know will empower and inspire leaders within our own community to share our own story,” NNMC President Hector Balderas said.

The opera is set in an Italian village in the 1950s. It follows the foibles of lovestruck Nemorino, a not-so-clever mechanic, who is in love with a schoolteacher named Adina.

When an army man, Sergeant Belcore, asks Adina for her hand, Nemorino decides to take action. He approaches a traveling quack doctor, the Great Doctor Dulcamara, for a love potion. Dulcamara sells him a “potion” that is nothing more than a cheap Bordeaux. The confidence it inspires in Nemorino sets off a series of comic consequences that eventually resolve with Nemorino winning Adina’s love.

Santa Fe Opera General Director Robert K. Meya said, “The Santa Fe Opera is thrilled to partner with Northern New Mexico College to bring our film of “The Elixir of Love” to the Española community. This lighthearted and charming opera is the perfect introduction for new audiences while offering longtime opera lovers a fresh opportunity to experience its magic. Through our “3, 2, 1, Opera” program and this special screening, we hope to share the joy, humor and beautiful music of Donizetti’s masterpiece with all who attend.”

The screening starts at 6:30 p.m., but families and audience members are invited to arrive at 5:30 p.m. to participate in “3, 2, 1 Opera,” a fun-filled introduction to “The Elixir of Love” with noted opera educator and conductor Oliver Prezant. The program gives young people a sense of the music, the characters and the story just before the start of the film. Children in the audience volunteer to participate in a “cartoon” version of the opera, with costumes and props, narrated by Oliver. During the presentation, the whole audience participates in singing themes from the opera, exploring some of the language and the text and pretending to be the chorus or the orchestra, in order to experience and embody elements of the music and the drama.

For those who have never experienced an opera, Mark Tiarks of “The Santa Fe New Mexican” wrote, “…’The Elixir of Love’ could be an ideal choice as a first opera for those who are intrigued but skeptical or for kids.” On-screen translations in English and Spanish will be available.

The production is directed by Stephen Lawless. Conductor Roberto Kalb makes his company debut. Chilean soprano Yaritza Véliz, a rising star following notable debuts at Glyndebourne, the Komische Oper Berlin, Ópera Nacional de Chile, sings Adina in her Santa Fe Opera debut.

Former Apprentice singer Jonah Hoskins sings Nemorino, a role he debuted in Spring of 2024 to critical acclaim at the Metropolitan Opera. Former Apprentice singer Luke Sutliff, with SFO appearances in the roles of Dancaïre in “Carmen” (2022) and Demetrius in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (2021), returns to sing the role of Nemorino’s rival, Belcore. Mexican baritone Alfredo Daza makes his house debut as the double-dealing Dulcamara, and second-year Apprentice singer Cadie J. Bryan is Giannetta.

Lawless and scenic and costume designer Ashley Martin-Davis have retained the opera’s Italian roots and added American iconic elements. Thomas C. Hase provides the lighting design, Susanne Sheston is the chorus master, Sandra Moore is the stage manager and Sordelet, Inc. oversees fight and intimacy direction.

Seating for this free event is first-come, first-served. The screening runs approximately two hours with no intermission. “The Santa Fe New Mexican” will be offering free popcorn for anyone who signs up to receive their email newsletter.

Tickets: Free with no reservations required. Seating is first-come, first-served “The Elixir of Love” performance recording is directed by Jesse Fisher with support from assistant director Nathan Troup; Kabby Sound Studios provides sound engineering. Artist appearances are made possible through the American Guild of Musical Artists, AFL-CIO and the American Federation of Musicians, Local 618. 

Alfredo Daza (Dulcamara), the Santa Fe Opera Chorus. Photo by Curtis Brown for the Santa Fe Opera

Cadie J. Bryan (Giannetta), Yaritza Véliz (Adina), Luke Sutliff (Belcore), the Santa Fe Opera Chorus, Photo by Curtis Brown for the Santa Fe Opera