Rehearsals are under way at the Manoel Theatre as the production team, cast and chorus come together with the Malta Philharmonic Orchesta to ensure that everything is ready to bring Gaetano Donizetti’s comic opera L Elisir d’Amore to life this evening.

Premiered at the Teatro della Canobbiana in Milan on May 12, 1832, this opera was a triumph that secured Donizetti’s place as one of the leading Italian opera composers of his day.

The plot may be the standard poor boy falls in love with rich girl, with a series of complications in between leading to the ‘they lived happily ever after’ ending, but there is more to the production that makes it an enriching experience for audiences every time.

The production combines a touching love story and hilarious comedy with beautiful music, such as the much-loved aria Una furtive lagrima.

The performance will feature Maltese artists among the cast, including Cliff Zammit Stevens (alternating with Matteo Mezzaro) in the role of Nemorino and Francesco Aquilina and Rosabelle Bianchi who share the role of Giannetta. Adina is played by Madina Karbeli and Shoushik Barsoumian, while Pilippe-Nicolas Martin and Valdis Jansons play Belcome and Emilio Marcurri and Luciano Miotto play Dulcamara.

Performances are being held today, tomorrow and on Sunday at 7.30pm, with a pre-opera talk for ticketholders at 6.45pm.

• More information may be obtained online at www.teatrumanoel.com.mt and by e-mail: bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt