Opera North's "Elixir of Love"

This was a delightful evening at Newcastle's Theatre Royal: Opera North really bringing Donizetti's charming masterpiece to life, albeit sung in English.

The production, by Daniel Slater, updates the story to about 1960, the time of "La Dolce Vita" in Italy. It is highly colourful, with particularly wonderful costumes for the women. Belcore makes his entry on a motor scooter and Dulcamara in a hot air balloon! Nemorino is a waiter at the local cappucino cafe. It all works wonderfully well with each chorus member creating a distinctive character from the local community in an Italian riviera town. A comic highlight was the drunken hen night chorus at the beginning of Act II - just the right side of slapstick.

A notable debutant with Opera North was Andrew Kennedy as Nemorino. This young tenor has been on the Royal Opera House's Young Artist's Programme, is a BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist and won the lieder prize at the Cardiff "Singer of the World" competition in 2005. He sang extremely well with some lovely soft singing and noticeable coloratura skills. All that was lacking was a bit of Mediterranean warmth to the voice. More an Albert Herring than a Nemorino perhaps? He also had a tendency to over-act - particularly in the First Act.

The Adina was the Swedish soprano Anna Ryberg. A small voice, she had all the notes including some good high ones. She wore the Dolce Vita costumes with confidence and looked gorgeous.

Peter Savidge was not the most vocally splendid Dulcamara but he presented a wonderful stage character. As did Susanna Andersson, who also sang very well as Giannetta.

Not such a good night on the conducting front. Tecwyn Evans's accompaniment was often too loud and was generally heavy handed, revealing little understanding of bel canto style.