ARTISTIC director of National Opera, Peter Coleman-Wright, has hit upon a winning formula with his “Pocket Operas,” arranged by himself as condensed versions of famous operas each running for about 60-90 minutes.

His idea is to include the “hit songs” as well as parts of the opera that may not be as well known.

This time round it’s Donizetti’s famous opera, “L’elisir d’amore” (The Elixir of Love).

The heroine, Adina (Sarah Darnley-Stuart) is a beautiful and rich lady with a tender heart.

Nemorino, (Daniel Verschuer) besotted with her, is a young and poor villager and it is his aria, “Una furtiva lagrima” (A Furtive Tear) in Act II that forms the centrepiece of the work.

The director will be Ylaria Rogers, who achieved a hit in Sydney recently with her Canberra production of the musical “Urinetown” and the music director will be Leonard Weiss, who will conduct the Canberra Sinfonia,

The production will be sung in English using the libretto by David Parry and to make it an attractive community event, each performance will be followed by a supper.

“Elixir of Love” – A Pocket Opera, Albert Hall, 6pm, May 11, and 2pm and 6pm, May 13.