There'll be no need for tissues at Donizetti's L'Elisir d'Amore (The Elixir of Love), a joint Cape Town Opera and UTO Opera School production, playing at the Baxter Theatre from 23 to 29 August.

L'Elisir d'Amore is a mixture of sharp comedy and heartfelt pathos, while the famous aria Una furtiva lagrima (One Furtive Tear) has been a showstopper in the repertoire of the great tenors, from Enrico Caruso to Pavarotti.

L'Elisir d'Amore is ideal for introducing the different voices and personalities of the young voices of the Voice of the Nation Studio and the UCT Opera School. The three Adinas are Nokrismesi Skota (a winner of the SAMRO International Singing competition), Yandiswa Makade?Mayeki and Nozuko Teto. The Nemorinos are voiced by Sunnyboy Dladla, Mlamli Lalapantsi and Given Nkosi, and the Belcores by Aubrey Lodewyk, Thato Machona and Mandisinde Mbuyazwe. The 32 singers in the chorus are all students at UCT.

The new production, directed by Christine Crouse, boasts set designs by Michael Mitchell, costumes by Maritha Visagie and lighting by John T Baker.

Opera School director Kamal Khan will conduct the UCT Symphony Orchestra for this sunny opera, sung in Italian with English subtitles.

Performances are on 23 August at 18h00; at 19h30 on 25, 26, 27 and 28 August; and at 15h00 on 29 August. Prices are R125 and R175, with a discount of 50% for students. Book at Computicket.