Opera star Torosyan born to sing

Armenian Hasmik Torosyan plays the leading role of Adina, a farm owner, in The Elixir of Love, presented by Festival Opera this month.

Hasmik Torosyan was born to be an opera singer and, it seems, destined to play the part of leading lady.

She is a shining star in Hawke's Bay Festival Opera's delivery of The Elixir of Love, showing at Napier Municipal Theatre on three dates over Tremains Art Deco Weekend.

The beautiful soprano arrived in Napier 11 days ago, slotting into daily rehearsals though, having played the leading role of Adina in her homeland of Armenia and more recently as an understudy in London, she knows the ropes.

While she already had the songs mastered, minor details of her character were always tweaked to suit the individual performance.

"I think every time I'm in the role it's new, the directors have their own interpretations so it's always different," she said.

An invitation to perform the part in New Zealand was hard to resist, especially during the Kiwi summer.

"I really like it here - the people here, they are very open and friendly. I love the weather, I come from Armenia so it's really winter there."

The playful comic opera by Donizetti is presented with English subtitles. It follows Nemorino, a naive village boy, who is besotted with Adina, a farm owner, but she rejects his declarations of love.

Fortunately, Doctor Dulcamara is on hand with a "love potion" to help him win her heart.

"It's joyful, happy and funny, the whole cast is really fantastic," she says. "I can't say too much more about the production - it's a surprise."

It stars an international cast of opera singers, hailing from Armenia, South Africa, Spain and New Zealand, supported by local singers, creative and stage teams. Jose Aparicio is both conductor and director.

Torosyan says it was a childhood dream come true to be on stage and she now spends much of her time travelling the world playing top roles.

"When I was 4 or 5 years old I was already sure I was going to be an opera singer. I didn't wan't to think about any other profession. I started studying when I was 16, before that I went to music school when I was 11.

"I can say that I cannot live without singing, I think I was born for it."

-Tickets are available from $50 from Napier Municipal Theatre Box Office or Ticketek, phone 0800 842 538 or visit ticketek.co.nz