Need a respite from the angst of a melting 401K, a reprieve from an endlessly suspenseful election season, or even gloomy, threatening winter weather? The answer, my friends, is in a bottle (looks a lot like cheap red) which Opera San Jose has packaged with a delightful setting, sparkling voices and some of the most tuneful opera melodies ever written.

"Elixir of Love" may be Gaetano Donizetti's "throwaway" opera, hastily composed and packed with the staples of beautiful bel canto singing. It may not have the tense drama of his "Lucia de Lammermoor" but it is perfect for sheer escapism. The opera's locale has been transported from northern Italy to another sunny Mediterranean spot: San Jose of the early 1900s.

We're looking down South Market Street past St. Joseph's cathedral, the old post office (now part of the San Jose Museum of Art) and the light tower that was built to put San Jose on the map as a high-tech city of the future. Cast members were given names which evoke the early days of the valley; the English supertitles are very much in the vernacular of the day. You don't often find words like "skedaddle" and "hot dog" on opera titles.

The "Elixir" is poured in the San Jose of sunshine, fruit and flowers but the story is straight out of the European sensibility, sort of what one critic called the male Cinderella fantasy.

Nemorino Giannini, a smitten but simple bumpkin loves Adina O'Brien, the sassy, self-assured owner of a candy store much beloved by

generations of early area residents. Desperate to get her to love him, he extracts several bottles from a quack doctor who "cures" everything with his alcoholic potions. His ardor is frustrated as Adina flirts with and then comes close to marrying Sgt. Belcore Naglee, who has a platoon of soldiers stationed in town. The magical beverage, which is imbibed at the same time news comes of a big inheritance Nemorina will get with the death of his uncle (A.P. Giannini?) results in all the girls in town throwing themselves at him. Love conquers all in the end.

This opera was one of Luciano Pavarotti's earliest signature roles. One of his co-stars was the insouciant Kathleen Battle, whose voice and lively mannerisms were similar to Opera San Jose's heroine Khori Dastoor, who sang in the opening night performance. She is a second-year resident artist with the company. Nemorinoi was sung by Alexander Boyer, a high tenor with a sweetness of sound that captured the essence of the character. Boyer is making his debut here and is joining the resident artists group.

Dr. Dulcamara Mirassou was ably sung by bass Silas Elash, who has sung often with Opera San Jose and is now a resident artist. His mastery of the patter song, listing all of the ailments his potions cure, was a showstopper. The role of Belcore could have used a more robust baritone than Krassen Karagiozov could muster but the Bulgarian singer is a skillful actor and conveyed a self-confident aura.

Maestro Anthony Quartuccio, who has led the company in many operas over the past decade, was a commanding presence in the pit. Stage director for this production was an inspired choice. Diana Schuster is a veteran of hundreds of musical theater works, many of them here in San Jose at the American Musical Theater. She is used to dealing with large forces. This debut in opera capitalized on her imaginative uses of movement and action where older opera forms tended to be a stand-and-deliver kind of static scene.

Set designs were by Charlie Smith in another company debut. The single set captured a stylized plaza scene with simple yet effective nuances. Pamila Z. Gray's lighting effects helped change the mood from scene to scene.

This joyful opera will continue through Nov. 23 with matinees on Sundays at 3 p.m. and four more 8 p.m. performances. The alternate cast has Michael Dailey and Rebecca Davis as the lovers, Daniel Cilli is the sergeant and Joseph Rawley makes his company debut as Dulcamara.

Opera San Jose's next production will be the witty Mozart masterpiece "Cosi fan tutte" in February.

* * *

Mort Levine is founder

and publisher emeritus of

Milpitas Post Newspapers.