L'elisir d'amore

Gaetano Donizetti
Felice Romani after Augustin Eugène Scribe

Melodramma in two Acts
Variety is a scarce commodity in the glum little village depicted by Gaetano Donizetti and his librettist Felice Romani – the only prospects beyond the stifling confines of this backwater seem to be the illusion of a hero’s life as a soldier, even if it might lead to an untimely death.

But what wonders a little bottle of Bordeaux can work! Shrinking violet Nemorino really turns up the volume courting Adina after just a couple of sips of the love elixir he purchased from miracle doctor, Dulcamara. And the potion promptly takes effect. Nemorino turns into a daredevil, preferring to die in battle rather than see his beloved Adina fall into the hands of strapping Sergeant Belcore. The ambitious Adina cannot resist the charms of the bold Nemorino – and even Dulcamara is flabbergasted at the energy and transformation released by his deception: this woebegone world of dolorous yearning is suddenly filled with color and fantasy.

And the listeners are left with the hope that this music might be able to transform them, too.

Italian with German surtitles

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Casts

Conductor Juraj Valcuha   
Production David Bösch   
Set Patrick Bannwart   
Costumes Falko Herold   
Lighting Michael Bauer   
Dramaturgy Rainer Karlitschek   
Chorus Andrés Máspero   

Adina Laura Tatulescu 13./16./21. May 2010  
Nino Machaidze 21./24./27. July 2010  
Nemorino Dmitry Korchak 13./16./21. May 2010  
Rolando Villazón 21./24./27. July 2010  
Belcore Fabio Maria Capitanucci   
Dulcamara Ambrogio Maestri   
Giannetta Tara Erraught 13./16./21. May 2010  
Lana Kos 21./24./27. July 2010  

The Bavarian State Orchestra
The Chorus of the Bavarian State Opera