UMSL student Brendan Lally (pictured) will play the romantic role of “Nemorino” in “The Elixir of Love” production Feb. 24-25 at the Touhill. (Photo provided by Stella Markou)

Cap off the month of love with a musical about, what else…love.

The University of Missouri-St. Louis’ Opera Theatre will stage a two-day run of Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti’s “The Elixir of Love,” at the end of February. The opera is one of the genre’s most delightful gems and promises to be an intoxicatingly fun evening of musical seduction.

The shows will take place in the E. Desmond and Mary Ann Lee Theater at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center at UMSL. A 7:30 p.m. performance kicks off on Feb. 24, followed by two shows on Feb. 25. There will be an afternoon show at 2 p.m. and an evening performance at 7:30 p.m. The afternoon show will include a preconcert lecture at 1 p.m., given by Stella Markou, assistant professor of music at UMSL and director of vocal studies. Attendees will get an insider’s view of the opera from the perspective of the singers and director.

The lecture is aimed at giving the audience “an upper hand in grasping all the action which is taking place on stage,” said Markou.

“The Elixir of Love,” is free and open to the public.

The Touhill is on UMSL’s North Campus, 1 University Blvd. in St. Louis, Mo. The concert is sponsored by the Department of Music at UMSL. Visit http://touhill.org or call 314-516-4949 for more information.