EVENINGS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC - BAHRAIN - |
PROGRAMME FOR 12 FEBRUARY 2003 |
VALENTINE SPECIAL |
Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848) - L'ELISIR D'AMORE Comic Opera in Two Acts Libretto: Felice Romani, after Eugène Scribe's libretto for Auber's Le Philtre First Performance: 12 May 1832, Milan CAST Adina - Angela Gheorghiu Nemorino - Roberto Alagna Belcore - Roberto Scaltriti Dulcamara - Simone Alaimo Madama Dulcamara - Luce Bekistan Giannetta - Elena Dan Orchestre et Choeur de l'Opéra National de Lyon Conductor - Evelino Pidò Directed by Frank Dunlop Recorded at the Opéra National de Lyon (September 1996) Sung in Italian with English sub-titles |
Synopsis Introduction Although the opera is usually set in early-19th-century Tuscany, this production was very successfully updated and set in the 1920's Act One Nemorino, a shy and simple young farmer from a Basque village, is in love with Adina, a wealthy country girl. But Adina is fickle and his offers of love are constantly rejected. As the curtain rises on Adina's farm, she is seated apart from a group of harvesters, reading. Nemorino wonders how he can possibly win her love, since she is so wonderful and so superior to himself. She has just come across the legend of the potion which bound Tristan and Isolde with undying love, and reads it aloud to amuse the others. At this point a drum is heard and a platoon of soldiers, headed by the dashing and bombastic Sergeant Belcore, enters. Belcore at once begins to woo Adina, and in spite of his self-assurance and arrogance, she is flattered. However, to his hasty proposal of marriage she answers that she would like a little time to think it over. Nemorino, naturally, is very jealous and when everyone else leaves, he begs Adina to return his love, but in vain - she prefers to remain free. Dr Dulcamara, a picturesque and loquacious quack, arrives in the village square and, before the assembled villagers, sings the praises of his wonderful remedy, guaranteed to cure all ills. The naive and credulous Nemorino is impressed and asks whether he also sells the love potion of Queen Isolde. Naturally Dulcamara obliges him, but warns him that the potion will take effect only after twenty-four hours - which will give him time enough to leave the village - and that no one must know about it. Nemorino is now so pleased and sure of himself that Adina is surprised to find him in a cheerful and indifferent mood. He assures her that his heart will be cured within one day. In a fit of pique she then tells Belcore that she will marry him in six days' time. Nemorino is not worried - he knows that tomorrow she will fall at his feet. But a message reaches Belcore with an order to leave the village in the morning, so Adina agrees to marry him that very day. Nemorino is now desperate, but his entreaties to Adina to postpone the wedding for just one day are all in vain - she invites everyone to the marriage feast and they all mock the distraught Nemorino. Act Two The marriage feast in anticipation of the wedding is in progress inside Adina's farm and Dulcamara is among the guests. When the notary arrives, Adina hesitates to sign the marriage contract, as Nemorino is not there and her vengeance would not be complete without him. As the company disperses, he enters and, finding Dulcamara alone, asks for help. Dulcamara prescribes another dose of his remedy, but Nemorino has no more money. The doctor gives him a quarter of an hour to find it. Belcore now enters and persuades Nemorino to enlist in his platoon if he wants money, commenting to himself with glee that to enlist one's own rival is quite a clever stroke. Nemorino accepts in the hope of winning Adina's love before having to leave. The news is spreading through the village that Nemorino's rich uncle has died, leaving him the sole heir. All the village girls surround the unwitting youth with their attentions, but in his simplicity he believes this to be the effect of the potion. Adina is astonished at his popularity and so is Dulcamara, who tells her about the potion She is deeply moved, especially when she hears that Nemorino has sold his freedom for her. She realises that she does, in fact, love him. Nemorino notices that she is weakening and is delighted. When Adina comes back with the enlistment papers, which she has just bought from Belcore, and admits to Nemorino that she loves him. And when Dulcamara lets slip the news he has just heard about the legacy, Nemorino's happiness is complete. Dulcamara, of course, attributes all this good fortune to his own magic elixir and the villagers rush to buy it. Finally everyone, except Belcore, blesses him as he triumphantly leaves the village. |
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