NIGHT AT THE OPERA: L’ELISIR D’AMORE

Presentation

From the Festspielhaus in Baden-Baden comes this spectacular production of Gaetano Donizetti’s wonderful L’Elisir d’Amore. Set on the movie set of a silent film Western (surprises at the end when the film is played), this is the second directorial work of Rolando Villazón (following his directorial debut in 2011 with Werther at Opera de Lyon). Villazòn as director and Nemorino — these tidings alone were enough to unleash a worldwide “run” on tickets to the Baden-Baden 2012 Pentecost-holiday opera!

A charming story of love and magic, Donizetti’s L’Elisir D’Amore was written in only six weeks and remains one of his most frequently performed operas. In this production, renowned tenor Rolando Villazón sets Donizetti’s classic in the Wild West, where mysterious potions and dubious medicine men offer the solutions to all of life’s problems.

Synopsis

 ACT 1

Nemorino, a poor, young peasant, loves Adina, a beautiful and wealthy landowner. Nemorino wants nothing more than to marry Adina, but as he is poor, he can only offer his love. While observing Adina reading Tristan und Isolde, Nemorino determines to obtain a love potion to win her heart – just like the legend.

However, Sergeant Belcore is also courting Adina, and proposes to her in front of the entire town. Adina politely postpones, telling him she will consider the offer. After Belcore leaves, Nemorino declares his love to Adina, but she returns his affection with indifference.

Meanwhile, the traveling “doctor,” Dulcamara arrives with great pomp and circumstance, presenting his magical elixirs to the town and quickly selling many bottles to the gullible villagers. The lovesick Nemorino asks Dulcamara if he possesses a love potion, and Dulcamara sells a magical elixir (in actuality, a bottle of cheap wine) to Nemorino for all of the money in Nemorino’s pockets. Dulcamara promises the elixir will take effect in one day, and makes a hasty exit.

Afterwards, Nemorino drinks the entire bottle as Adina enters. Filled with confidence, Nemorino treats Adina with indifference and Adina punishes him by agreeing to marry Belcore. Belcore tells her they must marry at once since he and his troops are scheduled to leave the town following morning. Adina agrees, despite Nemorino’s protests, and Nemorino’s hurries to buy another elixir from Dulcamara.

ACT 2

As guests appear for Adina’s wedding to Belcore, Adina becomes distressed by Nemorino’s absence. Meanwhile, Nemorino approaches Dulcamara and requests a love potion that will work instantly. However, since Nemorino no longer has any money, Dulcamara refuses to help. Belcore wanders outside, wondering why Adina has delayed the wedding by not signing the contract. He meets the sulking Nemorino, and upon learning that Nemorino has no money, persuades Nemorino to join the army and obtain a signing bonus.

Nemorino uses the money to buy another magical potion from Dulcamara, and soon, the women of the town begin flocking to his side. While Nemorino assumes their attentions are the result of the elixir, the truth is that Nemorino’s sick uncle has finally passed away, leaving the entirety of his wealth to Nemorino.

Adina arrives and sees Nemorino behaving oddly. She asks Dulcamara about Nemorino, and he reveals Nemorino has spent all of his money and even joined the army in order to buy a love potion for some woman. Realizing that she is the woman, she regrets her actions towards Nemorino. She realizes the truth of his love, and that she is in love with him as well.

Adina approaches Nemorino, but he acts indifferent and she rushes away. Seeing a tear on her face, Nemorino discovers she must love him. Adina then returns, handing Nemorino his enlistment contract, which she has bought back. Seeing the two embracing, Belcore proclaims there are plenty of other women in the world for him.

As Dulcamara leaves the town, everyone praises his work and rushes to buy his magical elixir.