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The Elixir of Love
Gaetano Donizetti
April 11th, 14th, 19th, 22nd - 2007
"William Burden sings with unfailing sweetness…and has the looks of a young romantic." ~ The Financial Times |
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ACT I
Adina, the owner of a local diner, her waitress Giannetta, and a group of rural workers are enjoying their lunch break. The young Nemorino laments he has nothing to offer Adina but love. The laborers urge Adina to read them her book – how Tristan won the heart of Isolde by drinking a magic love potion. No sooner has Adina done so than Belcore swaggers in from his military unit. The sergeant’s conceit amuses her, but he is not dissuaded from asking her hand in marriage. Saying she will think it over, she gives him refreshments for his comrades. When Adina and Nemorino are left alone, he awkwardly declares his love. She tells him his time would be better spent looking after his ailing uncle than mooning over her, for she is as fickle as the breeze.
The traveling quack doctor Dulcamara arrives and proclaims the virtues of his cure-all medicine. Nemorino asks Dulcamara if he sells the elixir of love Adina described in her story. Pulling out a bottle of wine, the charlatan declares it to be the very draught, but warns that its effects won’t be felt for 24 hours – long enough for him to get out of town. Nemorino buys the elixir and hastily drinks it. Confident of his success, he ignores Adina. To punish him, Adina flirts with Belcore, who, now informed that he must return to his garrison, persuades her to marry him at once. Horrified, Nemorino begs Adina to wait one more day, but she ignores him and invites the entire town to her wedding feast.
ACT II
Back at the diner, the pre-wedding supper is in progress. Dulcarmara suggests that Adina and he perform a newly published duet about a gondola-girl and her wealthy suitor. Adina then goes off with Beclore to sign the marriage contract and the guests follow on.
Remaining behind to enjoy the free food, Dulcamara is joined by Nemorino who begs for another bottle of elixir; his pleas are rejected because he has no money. Belcore returns annoyed that Adina has now postponed the wedding until later that night, and upon seeing Nemorino, asks why he is so sad. The youth explains his financial plight, whereupon the sergeant persuades him to join the army to receive the bonus that awaits all volunteers. Nemorino enlists, getting the money to buy more of the doctor’s elixir.
The town girls hear from Giannetta that Nemorino’s uncle has died and willed him a fortune. When the youth comes in, they besiege him with attention; unaware of his new wealth, he believes the elixir has finally taken effect. Adina and Dulcamara arrive in time to see him leave with the enraptured Giannetta and the other girls. Adina, shocked that he has sold his freedom to Belcore, grows determined to win back Nemorino’s attentions through her wily charms. Reentering alone in a pensive mood, Nemorino takes heart because of the look he saw in Adina’s eyes, but when she again appears, he feigns disinterest. She confesses she bought back his enlistment papers because she loves him.
Belcore marches in to find Adina affianced to Nemorino; declaring that thousands of other women await him, he accepts the situation philosophically. Attributing Nemorino’s success to his elixir, Dulcarmara sells all his wares before making a triumphant departure. |
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