"L'elisir d'amore" is a masterpiece by Gaetano DONIZETTI, best known for his bel canto operas. It is the story of Nemorino, a youth who hears the story of how a potion made Tristan und Isolde fall in love and sets out to woo Adina, the most beautiful woman in the village. The music itself directly conveys the characters of Nemorino, the lead character, unable to convey his love as he feels it, and of Adina whose heart is in a tumult for love. At every turn we get a real feel for DONIZETTI's skill, such as in the supreme musical moment in the opera when Nemorino sings "Una furtiva lagrima", or in the bright and distinctive Sergeant Belcore, the villain of the piece, or in Dr. Dulcamara's witty personality. The lively voice of the chorus further rouses the mood on stage. This production by Cesare LIEVI (first staged in 2009) saw the appearance of props like a 9-meter-long book and huge letters of the alphabet, and an actual-size small airplane, earning it a reputation for playfulness and on-the-mark psychological portrayals.

EPSG:4326

L'elisir d'amore

New National Theatre

Celebrate the 60th anniversary of the MSO Chorus in this program of glorious large-scale choral works.

Mozart's Great Mass

Arts Centre Melbourne

Heavily censored at its 1853 premiere, Verdi’s impassioned portrait of a celebrated courtesan in the last months of her life remains one of the most powerful stories of nineteenth century Paris, decadence, disease and selfless love.

Verdi: La Traviata (at Opera Holland Park)

Opera Holland Park

Parisian party girl Violetta is determined to leave her scandalous past behind her. She seizes the chance for a new life with the adoring young Alfredo, but when his disapproving father appears, Violetta is forced to make an impossible choice between duty and desire.

La traviata

Glyndebourne

Chiaroscuro meets Busby Berkeley meets Boris Karloff in a staging designed by takis, lit by Simon Corder and choreographed by Steve Elias. Close cousin to Gaitanou’s much loved production of La traviata (2018, 2021, 2024) in its theatrical exuberance and psychological sensitivity, Un ballo in maschera was hailed in The Independent as “a triumphant meld of lighting, design and choreography” and The Spectator as “musically exemplary”, with particular praise across the press for the work of the Opera Holland Park Chorus.

Un ballo in maschera

The Fondazione Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino along with the Fondazione “Musica per Roma” announce the important commission for a new opera: Romanzo criminale from the best seller by Giancarlo De Cataldo. The opera, with music and direction by Nicola Piovani, libretto by De Cataldo and directed by Massimo Popolizio, is scheduled at the Teatro del Maggio Fiorentino in October 2026, while in Rome at the Auditorium Parco della Musica “Ennio Morricone” it will be staged in 2027.

Matteo Desole

Events

Upcoming events

Jul 25 - Aug 7, 2026

Un ballo in maschera · Opera Holland Park

23 - 31 Oct, 2026

Romanzo criminale · Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

Past events

16 - 27 May, 2026

L'elisir d'amore · Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra

18 - 20 Sep, 2025

Mozart's Great Mass · Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

Future and recently performed repertoire

Singer in Great Mass in C minor by Mozart

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

Nemorino in L'elisir d'amore by Donizetti

Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra

Gustavo in Un ballo in maschera by Verdi

Opera Holland Park

Alfredo in La traviata by Verdi

City of London Sinfonia

About

Matteo Desole hasn't added a bio