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With exception of the late, great Luciano Pavarotti, Stanford Olsen has sung the aria from Donizetti’s “Elixir of Love” at New York’s Metropolitan Opera more than any other tenor.

This weekend, Olsen will sing “Una furtiva lagrima” during a Valdosta State University Opera performance.

“This is one of the great tenor favorites of all time, and it is a role I’ve sung all over the world,” Olsen says in an interview with The Times. “… I still love to sing it.”

In addition to the Donizetti piece, he will perform works from many other composers with the VSU Opera company.

“The actual (repertoire) includes arias from works by Mozart, Rossini, and Donizetti, composers who have figured prominently in my operatic career over the years; plus other selections by Donizetti, Bizet, and Bernstein.”

He worked with VSU in determining the concert’s program, which includes Olsen singing solos, duets and ensembles with faculty and students, a community children’s chorus, and university chorus.

“Operatic Favorites” marks something different from VSU Opera. Traditionally, the program offers one live performance per year. These shows feature VSU voice students directed by a combination of faculty and guest directors.

This season, VSU Opera presents two productions: “Operatic Favorites” featuring guest artist Stanford Olsen for one performance; and Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” for three performances in February.

Olsen made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 1986 and has since performed with the Met more than 150 times. He has also performed at the most prestigious venues throughout the world.

Olsen regularly collaborates with Kurt Masur and the New York Philharmonic. He has performed with Pierre Boulez, Seiji Ozawa, James Levine and John Elliot Gardner.

His recordings include works by Bach, Mozart, Rossini. Olsen received a 1995 Grammy nomination for his work on a recording of Rossini’s “Tancredi” and a 1999 nomination for a recording of Dvorak’s “Stabat Mater” with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

He is also a faculty member at Florida State University, where he holds the Shelfer Eminent Scholar Endowed Chair in voice and opera.

Olsen credits VSU Opera’s Carol Mikkelsen for making his Valdosta visit possible.

“I’ve wanted very much to visit Valdosta State and work with the students (for) some time,” Olsen says. “When Carol and I got to chatting about that, this performance was the ultimate result. I’ll also be working with students at the university in a variety of contexts during the week.”

He says this weekend’s concert features pieces, such as the Donizetti aria, which he loves as well as works that challenge him.

“The most difficult piece is the great tenor aria ‘La speranza piu soave’ from Rossini’s ‘Semiramide,’” he says. “It is a huge scene with chorus, divided into three sections; each one tougher to pull off than the one before. The tenor is backed up by the chorus — in this case, the students — and it makes a big flashy finish to the first half of the concert.”

Olsen says this concert should have something for all audiences — from patrons who love opera to those who are exploring the genre for the first time.

“I know opera can sometimes be intimidating but this concert would be a great introduction to this type of music,” Olsen says. “There is a lot of variety, different combinations of singers and voice types, some great orchestra music, some humor, and a whole bunch of tunes you can hum on the way to the parking lot.”

SHOWTIME

VSU Opera presents “Operatic Favorites,” featuring guest artist Stanford Olsen.

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1.

Where: Whitehead Auditorium, VSU Fine Arts Building, corner of Oak and Brookwood.

Ticket: $25.

Reservations, more information: Call (229) 333-2150.