Organization

Donizetti Opera

Singer

Soprano

Caterina Sala

Adina

Tenor

Javier Camarena

Nemorino

Baritone

Florian Sempey

Belcore

Bass

Roberto Frontali

Doctor Dulcamara

Anaïs Mejías

Giannetta

Stage director

Frederic Wake-Walker

Conductor

Riccardo Frizza

Lighting designer

Fiammetta Baldiserri

Costume designer

Daniela Cernigliaro

Set designer

Federica Parolini

Chorus master

Fabio Tartari

Fondazione Teatro Donizetti

Others

Coro Donizetti Opera

Orchestra

Orchestra Gli originali

Assistente alla regia

Lorenzo Ponte

Assistente ai costumi

Marta Solari

Assistente alle luci

Emanuele Agliati

Pianist

Daniela Pellegrino

Puppets

Daniele Cortesi

Italian

L'elisir d'amore -  (The Elixir of Love)

Bergamo

Italy

Teatro Donizetti

ACT I 

The action takes place in an indefinite period and in a "country of the Basques" which is very reminiscent of the Po countryside.  Nemorino is hopelessly in love with Adina, the beautiful, cultured and capricious owner of the farmhouse.  Adina is also courted by sergeant Belcore, head of the village garrison, and she seems to give him comfort even without agreeing to marry him.  Nemorino then takes courage and declares once more his love for him to Adina, who rejects her offers instead inviting him to go to the city, where Nemorino has a rich and sick uncle.  Meanwhile, attracting a large crowd, Dr. Dulcamara arrives on the town square, a traveling charlatan who peddles a miraculous drug capable of curing all ills.  Nemorino takes advantage of this to confess his love sickness;  Dulcamara then sells him a dose of his elixir, which is actually a common red wine, guaranteeing him that he will be loved within twenty-four hours, the time it takes to escape.  Nemorimo therefore flaunts confidence with Adina;  she, annoyed by this attitude, she decides on the spot to marry Belcore, who in the meantime has announced the transfer of his detachment to another location.  Nemorino begs Adina to wait at least a day, while Belcore gets angry and the whole village makes fun of the rejected lover. 


ACT II 

The wedding between Belcore and Adina is being celebrated but she, not seeing Nemorino, asks to postpone them for a few hours.  Desperate Nemorino asks Dulcamara for another dose of elixir, but he has no money to pay for it.  He then asks Belcore to become a soldier to pocket the enlistment prize.  Meanwhile, the news spreads in the village that Nemorino's uncle has died leaving him a conspicuous inheritance: the young man, who still does not know it and that after the second dose of Dulcamara's wine is drunk, is immediately courted by all the girls and attributes it the merit to the elixir.  However, Adina is still indifferent.  But she, when she learns from Dulcamara that Nemorino, in order to have her, has enlisted, she realizes she loves him, she redeems his engagement from Belcore and declares herself.  Except for the sergeant, who is sure to make up for it with other beauties, happiness is general.  Especially for Dulcamara whose concoction, he declares, not only heals diseases but also makes people fall in love.  A true elixir of love. 


PLOT 

ACT I 

The action is set in an undefined time and in a place in the “Basque Country” that is very reminiscent of the Po Valley countryside. Nemorino is hopelessly in love with Adina, the beautiful, well-educated, and whimsical mistress of the farmhouse. Adina is also wooed by Sergeant Belcore, head of the village garrison, and seems to indulge him, although she does not agree to marry him. Nemorino takes courage and once again declares his love to Adina, who dismisses him and instead urges him to go to the city, where Nemorino has a rich and sick uncle. Meanwhile, Doctor Dulcamara arrives in the town square, drawing a huge crowd. He is a travelling charlatan who peddles a miraculous medicine that can cure every illness. Nemorino takes the opportunity to confess his lovesickness; Dulcamara then sells him a dose of his elixir – which is in fact just ordinary red wine – assuring him that his love will be reciprocated within twenty-four hours, the time Dulcamara needs to get away. Nemorino then makes a show of his confidence with Adina, who, annoyed by his new attitude, on the spur of the moment agrees to marry Belcore, who in the meantime has announced that his detachment will be moved to another location. Nemorino begs Adina to wait at least one day, while Belcore becomes angry and the whole village mocks the rejected lover. 


ACT II 

The wedding between Belcore and Adina is about to be celebrated but, when Adina does not see Nemorino, she asks Belcore to postpone the wedding for a few hours. Nemorino is desperate and asks Dulcamara for another dose of elixir, but he has no money to pay for it. He then asks Belcore to become a soldier in order to get the enlistment bonus. Meanwhile in the village the news spreads that Nemorino's uncle has died and left him a large fortune: the young man – who is still unaware and, after the second dose of Dulcamara’s wine, is drunk – is immediately courted by all the girls and credits the elixir for it. Adina, however, is still indifferent. But when she learns from Dulcamara that Nemorino has enlisted just to win her, she realises that she loves him, frees him from his military engagement with Belcore and declares her love. Except for the sergeant, who is nonetheless sure he will make up for it with other girls, everyone rejoices. Especially Dulcamara whose concoction, he declares, not only heals illnesses, but also makes people fall in love. A true elixir of love.

The Elixir of Love by Donizetti, From (2021/2021), Directed by Frederic Wake-Walker,, Conductor Riccardo Frizza, Gaetano Donizetti Theater, Bergamo, Italy

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Crew

Ensemble

Co-Producer

Program, About & Synopsis

Photos

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues