Donizetti – The Elixir of Love

Nemorino is madly in love with Adina, but she is wealthy, popular, and beautiful, and he does not dare to declare his love. One day, Adina tells everyone the story of Tristan and Isolde, who only found love after drinking a magic potion. Nemorino wishes that he too could find a potion and win Adina’s love.

Suddenly the handsome and brash Captain Belcore arrives to a fanfare of trumpets and drums. The confident sailor almost immediately proposes to Adina, much to Nemorino’s despair, although Adina pauses to consider.

With another fanfare, a second stranger, one Dr Dulcamara, arrives and promises remedies for any ailment – mental or physical – that anyone may be suffering. Nemorino asks for a love potion and the Doctor hands one over, telling him it will only work after 24 hours. What Nemorino doesn’t know is that the potion is just wine.

Nemorino sips the “potion” and gradually feels its effect. He’s suddenly confident – after all, she’ll love him in 24 hours, whatever he does. Adina doesn’t understand what has changed in him and in order to test his loyalty she agrees to marry Belcore, but when new orders arrive instructing all the soldiers to depart, they are forced to marry that same eveneing. Nemorino desperately pleads with Adina to wait just one more day, but she refuses. As the preparations begin, he is in a deep misery.

All is ready for the signing of the marriage contract, but Adina keeps delaying the ceremony. Meanwhile, Nemorino begs Dulcamara for more potion, but has no more money. Belcore, suspicious of Adina’s uncertainty and keen to get rid of his rival, offers to pay him to enlist, and Nemorino agrees – signing away his life to the Navy.

News arrives that Nemorino’s rich uncle has died, suddenly making him a wealthy man. The others all hear the news and instantly turn their attention on Nemorino, who hasn’t been told, and believes that it is merely the effect of the love potion. Adina, who hasn’t heard the news either, is confused and annoyed, but when Dulcamara explains to her about the love potion and Belcore’s offer she finally understands Nemorino’s true feelings for her.

Paying Belcore back his recruitment fee, Adina returns the contract to Nemorino and they both finally admit their love. Belcore is irritated, but is certain that there will be plenty of other women. Dulcamara is overjoyed. Here is proof of the power of his potion – instant love and wealth! 

All the village celebrates, each buying their own bottle of “potion”, just in case …