The Elixir of Love (L’elisir d’amore)

Passion promised by a “magic” love potion proves to be no match for the real thing in Gaetano Donizetti’s hilarious bel canto masterpiece, The Elixir of Love (L’elisir d’amore), directed by Sarah Ina Meyers and conducted by Christian Capocaccia. A hapless, love-struck peasant named Nemorino falls head-over-heels for wealthy landowner Adina, but she has her eyes set on dashing young Sergeant Belcore. In a foiled comic attempt to woo her, the pompous officer asks for her hand in marriage, but Adina is in no rush to settle down, or so she says.  

Laughter ensues as quack doctor Dulcamara, a traveling peddler of cure-all tonics, rolls into town with a bottle of miracles, promising Nemorino that he will win the girl of his dreams. But will this liquid courage pay off? Will Adina marry the Sergeant, or will love conquer all in the end? Featuring one of the most popular tenor arias of all time, “Una furtiva lagrima,” and a crowd-pleasing score, this charming romantic comedy is a sparkling delight from the first sip to the last.  

Gaetano Donizetti, Music
Felice Romani, Libretto

Sung in Italian with English supertitles.