Under a spell: Tenor Jonah Hoskins conjures love and magic in 'The Elixir of Love'

Jul. 21—To win the object of his desire, Nemorino turns to magic.

Jonah Hoskins stars as the would-be mechanic-turned-sorcerer in Gaetano Donizetti's "The Elixir of Love" at the Santa Fe Opera. Performances run from Saturday, July 27, to Aug. 22.

Nemorino has fallen for Adina, a school teacher. He longs for her attention, but doesn't feel worthy. Fortunately, he meets Dr. Dulcamara (most certainly a quack) who sells him a "magic elixir" that can make his dreams come true.

"Nemorino's great," Hoskins said. "He's super lovable. He is so in love with Adina. Eventually he realizes he has to resort to magic, so he buys an elixir of love, which is really alcohol."

That "magic" gives him confidence, finally sparking some interest from his love.

The Santa Fe show marks Hoskins' third performance as Nemorino. The tenor has sung in "The Elixir of Love" at both the Metropolitan Opera and the San Francisco Opera. Hoskins was a Santa Fe apprentice from 2021 to 2022.

The singer grew up in Utah and graduated from Brigham Young University.

"I grew up singing in church and in the car with my family," he said. "When I was 9 or 10, I signed up for a children's choir."

Hoskins took private voice lessons at 15. When he was 17, a teacher encouraged him to try out for an international competition in Boston. It didn't go well.

"The judge told me I had assaulted him with my voice," Hoskins said, laughing.

He stayed on for a master class and won a scholarship to the Eastman School of Music.

"That was the moment when I thought maybe there's something there," he said.

Director Stephen Lawless has set this revival of Santa Fe's 2009 production in an Italian village in 1945. Nemorino works on the old cars.

"Nemorino changes a lot," Hoskins said. "He grows up a little bit. He gains the confidence to look Adina in the eye and make her choose him for once."

Hoskins will next travel to Dresden, Germany, to sing the role of Count Almaviva in "The Barber of Seville."