'the elixir of love'

Opening Saturday: The Minnesota Opera has brought in soprano Nicole Cabell and tenor Leonardo Capalbo to sing the roles of a wealthy woman who is pursued by a handsome but simple peasant in Donizetti's romantic comedy. It is the company's first production of this opera since 1986 and is set in the early years of the 20th century. Director Helena Binder (who staged 2007's "The Italian Girl in Algiers") returns to Minnesota for this production. Leonardo Vordoni is in the pit. The cast also includes the familiar baritone Andrew Wilkowske. (7:30 p.m. Sat., 2 p.m. next Sun. $25-$200. Ends Feb. 1. Ordway Center, 5th and Washington Sts., St. Paul. 612-333-6669, www.mnopera.org.)

Graydon Royce