Seattle Opera’s The Elixir of Love is quite possibly the first fully staged, filmed opera produced under social distancing protocols. With this production, Seattle Opera proves that it’s possible to keep enjoying opera – even full operas and not just recitals – while live performances are unavailable. The filmed format presents interesting opportunities for reinterpretation. And although it’s coincidental (The Elixir of Love was already planned for this season before the pandemic hit) there are ways in which The Elixir of Love is particularly well suited for this type of adaptation. So even though it’s not the same as being there, and not quite as good as being there, The Elixir of Love on film stands on its own as a fun opera experience.
