| Page Views: 3,912 Last Visit to Mannheim: July, 2004 | Opera in Mannheim by Nemorino - last update: May 21, 2008 |
| Foyer, Nationaltheater Mannheim |
If you'd like to see a light-hearted opera with beautiful melodies, lovely duets and a happy end for all but one of the characters, find out if the National Theater in Mannheim happens to be playing Gaetano Donizetti's L'Elisir d'Amore while you are there.
This is actually an ex-Frankfurt production that Mannheim bought the rights to after the Frankfurt Opera had revived it repeatedly over a period of several years.
Yes, there is a character named Nemorino in this opera, sung by a tenor with a classic aria Una furtiva lagrima near the end. Nemorino is rather shy and is spurned by his beloved Adina until he gets a bottle of Doctor Dulcamara's world-famous love potion, which is actually just ordinary red wine. |
. My most recent visit to Mannheim was to see an opera called Les Troyens by Hector Berlioz.
This is another example of a HUGE monumental opera that is seldom performed in Germany (or anywhere else as far as I know), but which I managed to see twice in two different productions in the 2003/2004 season.
The first was in Leipzig, where thanks to a timely business trip I was able to attend the premiere of their magnificent production last November.
In Mannheim it was musically just as good, but the staging in Mannheim was unfortunately quite silly and not always comprehensible. (In general I like modern staging if I can make sense of it, and I usually defend the stage directors in post-opera pub discussions, but this time I had to admit it was pretty weak.)
So DO see Les Troyens if you like big operas, but if you have the choice see it in Leipzig and not in Mannheim. (The English National Opera in London is also doing it in September/October 2004, if that is any help.)Investigation in progress: As an out-of-towner I don't have any recommendation (yet) about where to go for a drink in Mannheim after the opera. This last time we just had a beer at the station while waiting for our trains, hers was the 23:48 to Mainz and mine was the 23:49 to Frankfurt. |
> Add to your Custom Travel Guide [What's This?]
Nemorino's Mannheim Travel Tips
 Comments for Nemorino about Mannheim | | | | |
alancollins Thu Aug 20, 2009 21:02 UTC
I enjoyed your transport tip of how 1st and 2nd class compartments should line up. | risse73 Thu Jun 18, 2009 22:19 UTC
Don, thanks for visiting my unfinished DC page. Cupcakes are trendy now. Loved your Mannheim page and especially found Nemorino's struggle with unrequited love and that of "missed connections" at train stations quite human affairs. Cheers! -Marissa- | lynnehamman Sat Mar 14, 2009 15:08 UTC
Great page on Mannheim, Don.Those blocks & numbers would so confuse me!I enjoyed your explanationof the Gurs sign. Wonder what the OLD Opera house would have been like? | evaanna Sat Jan 31, 2009 20:23 UTC
Very interesting page with good pictures. The signpost pointing to Gurs is a good idea to remind people of the grim past. I'm sorry you lost that person on the other train. Perhaps you could try to meet her again?:) |
|
|
email me
add as friend
