European star tenor Otokar Klein makes his United States debut as Nemorino in the new WGO production of The Elixir of Love.

WICHITA, January 19, 2010 - Wichita Grand Opera will open the curtains on its new Valentine’s Day production of Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love on Saturday, February 13 at 7pm and Sunday, February 14 at 3pm at Century II. As WGO’s fourth production of the season, this lighthearted romantic comedy is sure to bring a smile to every face. The opera will be sung in Italian with English supertitles.

One of the most popular comedies in the history of opera, the plot should be instantly familiar to anyone who’s ever been in love. A backward country boy, tired of being taunted by the girl he adores, spends all his money on a bottle of fake love potion hocked by an unscrupulous traveling salesman, disquised as a doctor. Foibles abound in this non-stop zany misadventure, where the only sure thing is a happy ending for all. The score features the favorite tenor love song “Una furtiva lagrima,” among the most commonly performed in the operatic repertoire.

European tenor Otokar Klein makes his United States debut as Nemorino, the charming country boy. Klein has made a name for himself singing leading roles at some of the most prestigious opera houses in the world, including La Scala, the State Opera of Berlin, the Vienna State Opera, the Zurich Opera, the State Opera Budapest, the Prague Opera, the Royal Theater of the Mint in Brussels.

Soprano Emily Truckenbrod will be singing Nemorino’s love interest, the playful beauty Adina. Returning for her second season at WGO, Truckenbrod has a clear voice that makes “the angels sigh with envy” (The Dispatch). She debuted with Wichita Grand Opera in the role of Oscar in A Masked Ball. Other roles in her repertoire include Adele in Die Fledermaus, both The Queen of the Night and Papagena in The Magic Flute, Marie in La Fille du Regiment, and Yum Yum in The Mikado.

The Wichita Grand Opera Chorus sings “L'Elisir di si Perfetta”, the theme of Donizetti’s romantic comic opera.

The traveling charlatan Dr. Dulcamara will be sung by rising star Jorge Ocasio, who “steals the show in 'Elixir…like the great singing actor Tito Gobbi,” according to a recent reviewer in The Italian Review. Wichita native Michael Nansel returns to WGO from Washington Opera, where he sang in recent productions of La Boheme and Andrea Chénier as well as the American premiere of Sophie’s Choice. The baritone will sing the role of the cocky Sergeant Belcore.

Stage director Patrick Hansen will helm the production in his debut with WGO. In addition to making his WGO debut, this season he will also debut at the Kennedy Center with Puccini’s Turandot and at Opera Memphis with Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice. Margaret Pent, WGO Artistic Director and accomplished designer, will design the production. Highlights of her work in Wichita include directing and designing Carmen on the Lake at Bradley Fair, as well as the 2007 production of Tosca and the 2008 production of Faust, both starring Sam Ramey, among others.

The orchestra for The Elixir of Love will be under the baton of Slovakian National Opera principal conductor Martin Mázik. In addition to conducting more than 100 operas each year at SNO, he regularly appears with major orchestras and opera companies in Europe, Japan and The United States. He made his U.S. opera debut at Wichita Grand Opera in 2004 with Don Giovanni, and has returned every year since.

Season Subscriptions are available for the following productions until February 10, 2010, saving 11%: The Elixir of Love – Feb. 13 & 14; Carmen – Mar. 27; and Coppélia – Apr. 27. Single tickets for this production are $35, $58, and $85, with special discount prices available for seniors, students, military personnel, and groups of 10 or more. In addition, WGO and Hawthorn Suites are offering a collaborative package for out-of-town patrons: two “Better” tickets and a one-evening stay at the East Wichita location will cost a total of $150. For reservations, call the WGO Box Office at the number listed below.

For season subscriptions, single tickets or group discounts:

• Visit WGO Box Office, 3rd Floor of Century II Concert Hall at 225 W. Douglas, Wichita, KS between the hours of 9am and 5pm
• Call the Box Office at 316.262.8054
• Visit any local Select-A-Seat outlet at local area Dillons stores (no group discounts available)
• Order online at http://www.selectaseat.com (no group discounts available)

For more information about this performance or the remainder of the 2009-10 season, visit the website at www.WichitaGrandOpera.org. This Production is sponsored in part by The Cessna Foundation, the Kansas Health Foundation, and Mrs. Pete Armstrong.