L'elisir d'amore

"L'elisir d'amore" is a masterpiece by Gaetano Donizetti, best known for his bel canto operas. It is the story of Nemorino, a youth who hears the story of how a potion made Tristan und Isolde fall in love and sets out to woo Adina, the most beautiful woman in the village. The music itself directly conveys the characters of Nemorino, the lead character, unable to convey his love as he feels it, and of Adina whose heart is in a tumult for love. At every turn we get a real feel for Donizetti's skill, such as in the supreme musical moment in the opera when Nemorino sings "Una furtiva lagrima", or in the bright and distinctive Sergeant Belcore, the villain of the piece, or in Dr. Dulcamara's witty personality. The lively voice of the chorus further rouses the mood on stage. This production by Cesare Lievi (first staged in 2009) saw the appearance of props like a 9-meter-long book and huge letters of the alphabet, and an actual-size small airplane, earning it a reputation for playfulness and on-the-mark psychological portrayals.

The role of Adina is performed by Francesca Pia Vitale, a highly anticipated rising soprano star, and the role of Nemorino by Matteo Desole who earned rave reviews for his soaring voice in our 2022 production of La Traviata. Marco Filippo Romano, who has previously performed superbly in this role as well as in works by Mozart, appears as the potion seller Dulcamara. The role of Belcore, Nemorino's rival in love, is performed by popular Italian baritone singer Simone Alberghini. This production comes to life under the baton of prominent Italian conductor Marco Guidarini.