L'Elisir D'Amore
Overview
New York City & New Jersey. 2024.
L'Elisir d'Amore, Donizetti's beloved comic masterpiece, was produced by Teatro Grattacielo as part of its Young Artists Series, a co-production with Camerata Bardi International Academy and Light Opera of New Jersey. The production featured a uniquely diverse, queer-led, all-female creative team and five performances across NYC and New Jersey.
Context
Founded in 1994, Teatro Grattacielo promotes the rich tradition of opera by commissioning new works, revitalizing lesser-known repertoire, and supporting emerging artists, with a commitment to making opera accessible across all of New York City's communities.
Camerata Bardi International Academy is the educational arm of the organization: a program designed to give emerging international singers the opportunity to perform in a fully staged, professionally produced opera, alongside masterclasses, concerts, and educational outreach.
L'Elisir d'Amore was produced as part of the Young Artists Series, meaning the entire production was built around the 2024 cohort of emerging artists, making the administrative and coordination work as much about artist development as about production management.
Process
As Artistic Administrator, I was involved from day one in that production. I managed the full intake process for Camerata Bardi International Academy: gathering applications, handling contracts, collecting payments, and answering all related inquiries. In close collaboration with the Artistic Director, I built and maintained the production schedule, coordinated the team throughout rehearsals, and served as the main point of contact between the creative team and the artists. In parallel, I also developed and implemented the communication strategy, creating content for both social media and newsletters, and designing the opera program.
Impact
Both NYC and NJ performances drew strong audiences, with sold-out shows. But the biggest and most rewarding impact was giving a platform to a diverse roster of emerging opera singers from the Camerata Bardi International Academy. Additionally, through TG's educational program Creative Tableaux, the production extended its reach into the community, engaging students from the High School of Fashion Industries, Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, and other NYC public schools through workshops, masterclasses, internships, and opportunities to perform on stage.
Behind The Scenes
This production was by far my favorite. First of all, the music gets into your head and stays there. Working with the young artists from Camerata Bardi is deeply rewarding: witnessing emerging singers gaining confidence and stepping into a fully staged professional production is something else. But the real surprise? I ended up on stage myself! Director Stefanos Koroneos always loves giving depth to supporting characters, and in this case, he came up with the "groovy girl" and cast me in it. Before you ask: no, I did not sing... but there were some dance steps. Experiencing the other side of the stage, even briefly, was more valuable than I expected. It gave me a different kind of understanding of what the artists go through. And I like to think it made me a better collaborator.
Credits
Jason Tramm: Conductor
Stefanos Koroneo: Director, Projections Photographer, Costume Designer
A co-production of Teatro Grattacielo, Camerata Bardi International Academy & Light Opera of NJ
View production page.