Overview
Synopsis
L’elisir d’amore follows Adina, the beautiful but fickle landowner, and Nemorino, the clumsy but lovable young man, through the ups and downs of their love story. Nemorino is madly in love with Adina, but Adina holds him at arm’s length, feigning indifference to tease him. Over and over again, he professes his love to her, but she tells him to move on. Adina teases him by pretending to marry the pompous Sergeant Belcore. Desperate, Nemorino purchases an “elixir” that will make Adina fall in love with him, which actually is red wine that simply makes him tipsy. Convinced that she will fall for him, he begins to pretend not to love her anymore, which causes Adina to act out of jealousy, moving the wedding forward. After many twists and turns, Adina finally realizes and confesses her love for Nemorino, and they rejoice with the town.
Show Information
- Music
- Gaetano Donizetti
- Libretto
- Felice Romani
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1832
- Genres
- Comedy, Farce, Romance
- Settings
- Multiple Settings, Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- 18th century, an italian village
- Cast Size
- small
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- None
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- Professional Opera, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Child, Early Teen, Late Teen, Mature Adult Characters, Small Cast
Context
Gaetano Donizetti was not on the international opera scene until 1830 with Anna Bolena that threw him into the musical limelight. Donizetti had written works before this time, but was not fully acknowledged for his work until this piece became such an enormous success. After Anna Bolena, Donizetti was commissioned for a great number of works, which brought about L’elisir d’amore. L’elisir d’amore was written incredibly quickly by Donizetti, in only six weeks, due to his high number of
to read the context for L'elisir d’amore and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act I
In the small Italian town, the peasants are taking a break from their work and gather around the rich and beautiful landowner, Adina, as she reads a book. Nemorino, the simple, clumsy young village man, listens and watches with complete adoration (Quanto è bella, quanto è cara). He loves Adina completely, but senses that she may be out of his league. The villagers all urge her to continue reading, so she reads them part of the story of Tristan and Isolde, and how Tristan won
to read the plot for L'elisir d’amore and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Chorus of Peasants, Children, and soldiers of Belcore’s platoon |
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
|
Songs
Act I
- Prelude and Chorus: Bel conforto al mietitore (Chorus)
- Cavatina: Quanto è bella, quanto è cara (Nemorino)
- Cavatina: Della crudele Isotta (Adina)
- Cavatina: Come Parido vezzoso (Belcore)
- Recitative: Intanto, o mia ragazza
- Scene and Duet: Chiedi all’aura lusinghiera (Adina, Nemorino)
- Chorus: Che vuol dire cotesta suonata?
- Cavatina: Udite, udite, o rustici (Dulcamara)
- Scene and Duet: Voglio dire (Nemorino, Dulcamara)
- Recitative: Caro elisir, sei mio!
- Scene and Duet: Esulti pur la barbara (Adina, Nemorino)
- Terzet: In guerra ed in amore (Adina, Nemorino, Belcore)
- Quartet and Chorus- Finale: Adina, credimi (Chorus, Adina, Nemorino, Belcore)
Act II
- Chorus: Cantiamo, facciam brindisi (Chorus)
- Recitative: Poichè cantar vi alletta
- Barcarolle: Io son ricco e tu sei bella (Adina, Dulcamara)
- Recitative: Silenzio, è qua il notaro
- Recitative: Le feste nuziali
- Scene and Duet: Venti scudi (Nemorino, Belcore)
- Chorus: Saria possibile? (Chorus)
- Quartet: Dell’elisir mirabile (Adina, Giannetta, Nemorino, Dulcamara)
- Recitative and Duet: Quanto amore (Adina, Dulcamara)
- Romanza: Una furtiva lagrima (Nemorino)
- Recitative: Eccola
- Aria: Prendi, per me sei libero (Adina)
- Recitative: Alto! fronte!
- Finale: Ei corregge ogni difetto (Tutti)
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
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