Bass-baritone Todd Robinson injects his latest Virginia Opera role with theatrical legerdemain, transforming himself into Dr. Dulcamara, the traveling quack who peddles worthless remedies. None is more beguiling to local village rubes than the “Elixir of Queen Isolde.”
In the Virginia Opera’s updated production of Gaetano Donizetti’s “The Elixir of Love,” the wily “doctor” and his love potion engineer the romance of a lowly farmer, Nemorino, and the beautiful, wealthy heroine, Adina. Upon convincing the gullible townsfolk that his elixir enabled Nemorino’s unexpected inheritance, Dulcamara gleefully sells his remaining stash of the worthless product to those eager to reap their own fortunes.
“Dulcamara is what we call a basso-buffo, a comic role that’s fun to sing because it’s extremely wordy and full of patter,” Robinson says. “The audience is used to me in more serious roles with long, luscious lyrics. This allows them to hear me sing the rhythmic, linguistic patter of words that wrap around your mouth.”
The international artist has performed with San Francisco Opera, the Santa Fe Opera, Opera Pacific and New National Theater Tokyo among many others, but singing is merely one of his talents. A winner of the 1999 Richard F. Good Career Grant, he regularly divides his time among performing, conducting, directing and composing. His compositions range from sacred choral and orchestral pieces to pop and rock.
A former resident of Chesapeake, Va., he is now based in Binghamton, N.Y., where he has been music director of the Tri-Cities Youth Theater for the past six summers.
“When I started out, my primary interest was in singing, but I was soon drawn to conducting,” he says. “I cherish my work in Binghamton because I’ve reached a point in life when I love giving back some of my knowledge, lending advice to youngsters and giving voice lessons. Another responsibility is that of general director of Opera Plus in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, which involves planning all the music and frequent trips to the greater Spokane area.”
Robinson grew up in Montrose, Pa., where the region’s Welsh musical heritage reigns. He taught general music and chorus in the Montrose Area School District for three years and was the music director and conductor of two adult choirs before taking the plunge and committing himself to a career on stage. He recalls the pang of receiving his final check from the school system.
“It was a tough decision at the time, but it paid off,” he says. “Virginia Opera is one of the companies I most enjoy working with. I appreciate Peter Mark’s passion for putting rising young singers on the stage. There’s always a fine orchestra and set with each show. This one is no different. Donizetti’s score is very beautiful and the story is quite simple, yet stirring. It’s also fun being the comic relief.”
If you go
The Virginia Opera presents Donizetti’s “The Elixir of Love”
Where: George Mason University Center for the Arts
When: Dec. 5 at 8 p.m., Dec. 6 at 2 p.m.
Info: $44 to $98 at 888-945-2469; www.tickets.com
