A RETURN TO THE WIENER STAATSOPER FOR ‘L’ELISIR D’AMORE’

This month, René Barbera takes on his signature role of Nemorino from Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore at the Wiener Staatsoper. Mr. Barbera began the 2018/19 season with his debut at the house singing another favorite role by Donizetti: Ernesto from Don Pasquale. He returns to sing Nemorino on June 25, featuring production design by Otto Schenk and set and costumes by Jürgen Rose. Mr. Barbera will share the stage with Andrea Carroll as Adina, Samuel Hasselhorn as Belcore, and Paolo Rumetz singing Doktor Dulcamara. Guillermo García Calvo conducts.

Previous acclaim as Nemorino:

“The cast’s standout was René Barbera, a sweet, ardent, clarion-voiced Nemorino, and the afternoon’s musical highlight, naturally enough, was“ Una furtiva lagrima ”- here rendered as“ One tear she tried to hide from me. ”The English translation (credited to Kelley Rourke), rather than impeding the bel canto line, made the aria’s emotions visceral; at its climax, when Barbera was the foot of the stage, arms spread wide and sang of his passion, music, and meaning became one. The ovation that followed was not only a recognition of Barbera’s superb rendition but a celebration of Nemorino’s victory in love. “- Opera News