Opera Guide and Synopsis: L'Elisir D'Amore, by Gaetano Donizetti

L'elisir d'amore (The Love Potion) is a comic opera composed by Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848). It premiered on May 12, 1832 in Milan. The libretto was written by Felice Romani, and follows the same story as Daniel-François-Esprit Auber's 1831 opera Le philtre, with a libretto by Eugène Scribe. L'elisir d'amore is the most popular of Donizetti's works, and contains the well-known tenor aria "Una furtiva lagrima."

Characters in L'elisir d'amore

> Adina, a rich farm owner (Soprano)
> Nemorino, a peasant (Tenor)
> Belcore, a sergeant (Baritone)
> Dr. Dulcamara, a quack doctor (Bass)
> Giannetta, a peasant (Soprano)

Synopsis of L'elisir d'amore

The story takes place in a small Italian village in the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century.

Act I

Nemorino is in love with Adina ("Quanto è bella, quanto è cara"). However, she does not believe that love can be faithful. Although she does not reject Nemorino outright, she rejects legends like Tristan and Isolde, where women become dependent on love through magic potions ("Della crudele Isotta").

Belcore also courts Adina, more aggressively than Nemorino ("Come Paride vezzoso"). Dr. Dulcamara enters ("Udite, udite, o rustici") and sells Nemorino a bottle of wine, claiming that it is a love potion and he will be able to win Adina within a day if he drinks it. Nemorino drinks the wine and, in his confidence that he can win Adina, treats her coldly. She accepts Belcore's marriage proposal out of spite.

Act II

A feast is held for Adina's marriage to Belcore, but Adina keeps delaying the signing of the marriage contract. Dr, Dulcamara sings a baccarole with her ("Io son ricco, e tu sei bella"). Nemorino, believing that the elixir has failed, buys another bottle from Dr. Dulcamara; to pay for it, he enlists in the army under Belcore.

He drinks the "potion" and then receives news that he is the heir to his late, rich uncle's estate. The peasant girls vie for his attention, and he takes this as proof of the elixir's power ("Dell' elisir mirabile"). But Adina still loves him, and does not understand why he has given up his pursuit of her hand.

Nemorino sees Adina crying and realizes that she loves him ("Una furtiva lagrima"). She buys his release from the army. Belcore leaves the happy couple, and Dr. Dulcamara's "love potions" make him a rich man.

Sources:

> Kobbé, Gustav. The Complete Opera Book. New York and London: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1919.
> Mason, Henry L. Opera Stories. Boston: Henry L. Mason, 1912.
> Melitz, Leo, trans. Richard Salinger. The Opera Goer's Complete Guide. New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1921.