The Elixir of Love

Melodramma giocoso in two acts (1832)

Music by Gaetano Donizetti
Text by Felice Romani

Duration: approx. 2:30 h including one intermission after Act I

Language: in Italian with German and English surtitles

Recommended age: 10+

Love potions have long enjoyed great popularity in literature: one need only think of the medieval story of Tristan and Isolde, which—more than 30 years before Wagner’s music drama—also found its way into Donizetti’s opera. The somewhat simple-minded Nemorino is inspired by this legend to try to speed up the approach to his beloved Adina with the help of a magic potion offered to him by the charlatan Dulcamara.

However, as in Tristan and Isolde, the consumption of the potion does not lead to the intended goal. When Nemorino, now intoxicated, meets Adina—the potion’s intoxicating effect is in fact due to its high alcohol content—she turns away in anger and decides instead to marry the dashing soldier Belcore. It takes a second bottle of “love elixir” and generous help from chance for Nemorino and Adina to finally find each other, and by the end the entire village community is thoroughly convinced of the elixir’s effect. With the delightful naivety of the characters, Donizetti and his librettist Felice Romani gently and affectionately poke fun at superstition and credulity. The music, reportedly composed in just three weeks, also grants the protagonists touching, intimate moments, not only in the famous aria “Una furtiva lagrima.” Its inexhaustible melodic richness makes The Elixir of Love one of Donizetti’s most popular stage works, now returning to the repertory of the State Opera after a long absence.

Plot

Act one

The young and naive peasant Nemorino loves Adina, though she has nothing but scorn for him. Adina reads the tale of Tristan and Isolde to the villagers. This gives Nemorino the idea of winning Adina’s love by means of a magic potion.
The sergeant Belcore enters with his soldiers. He pays court to Adina, who is impressed. Nemorino pleads with Adina, but she resists his advances again.
A trumpeter announces the arrival of Dulcamara. This traveling doctor is hawking a remedy for all ills. Nemorino asks him for Isolde’s love potion. Dulcamara presents a bottle of Bordeaux, claiming that it is the very potion, and sells it to him, advising him that it will take effect in 24 hours.
Nemorino hastily drinks the draught. The alcohol and the prospect of success bestow unwonted self-confidence on Nemorino. Adina is annoyed by his uncustomary high spirits and out of spite she gives her consent to Belcore’s suit.
News is brought of the imminent departure of the troops. As a result, the wedding is scheduled for the evening. Nemorino is desperate because the potion will not have time to take effect. He begs Adina to put the wedding off. His peculiar behaviour only incites her to make fun of him even more.

Act two

The pre-nuptial feast is in progress. Belcore insists that the marriage contract should be signed and the marriage consummated. Adina, however, wants Nemorino to be present before she signs.
Nemorino begs Dulcamara for help. He recommends buying another bottle of the so-called love potion, but Nemorino does not have enough money. In desperation he allows Belcore to enlist him as a soldier. With the recruitment pay he buys a second bottle of Bordeaux from Dulcamara.
Giannetta and the village girls discover that Nemorino has been bequeathed a fortune, although he is not yet aware of this himself. He notices that women are suddenly attracted to him in great numbers – the love potion must be working!
Dulcamara and Adina see Nemorino amid a throng of girls. Adina is seized by jealousy, and realises that in fact she loves Nemorino. Dulcamara tells her about the love potion and suggests she buy a bottle herself. Adina feels she can trust to her own charms and has no need of magic potions. A tear in Adina’s eye reveals to Nemorino that at last his love is requited.
Adina has bought back his enlistment papers from Belcore, but still does not want to own up to her feelings for Nemorino. Only when Nemorino threatens to enlist nevertheless does Adina confess her love for him.
Belcore and the soldiers depart. Thanks to Nemorino’s success with Adina, Dulcamara is doing the briskest trade of his life with his elixir of love.