(The Elixir of Love)
By: Gaetano Donizetti
A Comic Opera in Two Acts
Unchaga Hall
March 9, 2001 - 8:00 p.m. sharp
Admission $20.00
The story
Act I.
Adina the owner of local farm, her friend Giannetta and a group of peasants
are resting beneath a shade tree on her estate. From a distance Nemorino,
a young villager, watches the bucolic scene, lamenting that he has nothing
to offer Adina but love.The peasants urge their mistress to read them
a story - how Tristan won the heart Isolde, by drinking a magic love
potion. No sooner has she done so, than Sargent Bilcore swaggers in with
his troop. The soldier's conceit amuses Adina, but he is not dissuaded from
asking her hand in marriage. Promising to think the offer over, sheorders
refreshment for hiscomrades. When Adina and Nemorino are left alone, she tells
him his time would be better spent looking after his ailing uncle than mooning
over her, for she is as fickle as a breeze.
In the town piazza, villagers hail Dr. Dulcamara, who enters in a carriage
to proclaim the patent medicinehe is selling. The foppish quack declares the
potion capable of curing anything. Since it is inexpensive, the villagers
buy eagerly. When they have gone, nemorino asks Dulcamara if he sells the
elixir of love described in Adina's book. Pulling out a bottle of Bordeaux,
the charlatan declares this is the very draught. Though it costs him his last
cent, Nemorino buys the wine and hastily drinks it.Adina enters to find him
tipsy; certain he will win her love, he pretends indifference.To punish him,
Adina flirts with Belcore, who, 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 theentire town to her wedding
feast.As the peasants shout taunts, Nemorino rushes away, moaning that he
has been ruined by Dr. Dulcamara's elixir.
Act II.
At a local tavern, the pre-wedding supper is in progress. Dulcamara, a self-appointed
master of ceremonies, sits with the bridal couple. "What a pity Nemorino
cannot see how happy we are," thinks Adina. Her mind is distracted by the
doctor, who suggests blend their voices in a barcarole about a gondoliera
and her wealthy suitor. When the duet ends, Adina goes off with Belcore to
sign the marriage contract; the guests disperse. Remaining behind, Dulcamara
is joined by Nemorino, who begs for another bottle of elixir, his pleas are
rejected because of lack of funds. Belcore returns, annoyed because Adina
has postponed the wedding until nightfall; when he spies Nemorino, he asks
why he is so sad. The youth explains his financial plight, whereupon the
sergeant persuades him to join the army to receive a bonus awaiting all volunteers.
Belcore leads the perplexed Nemorino off to sign him up, enabling him to
buy more elixir.
Peasant girls, gathered in the square, learn from Gianetta that Nemorino's
uncle has died and willed him a fortune. When he reels in, giddy from a second
bottle of wine, they besiege him with attention; unaware of his new wealth,
he believes the elixir finally has taken effect. Adina and Dulcamara arrive
in time to see him leave with a bevy of beauties, and she, angry htat he
has sold his freedom to Belcore, grows doubly furious. Scenting a new sale,
Dulcamara claims that Nemorino's popularity is due to the magic elixir. Adina
replies that she will win him back through feminine charms. Re-entering alone
in a positive mood, Nemorino takes heart because of a tear he has seen on
Adina's cheek, but when she appears, he acts disinterested. She confesses
she bought back his enlistment papers because she loves him.
Back in the piazza, Belcore marches in to find Adina affianced to Nemorino;
declaring that thousands of women await him, he accepts the situation philosophically.
Attributing Nemorino's happiness and inheritance to the elixir, Dulcamara
quickly sells more bottles before making his escape.