The Santa Fe Opera

Skip to main content Skip to search
The Elixir of Love 2009

The Elixir of Love 2009

July 4 - August 28, 2009

Nemorino pines for the haughty Adina…

…but she couldn’t be less interested…until Dr. Dulcamara’s love potion works its magic!

Music By
Gaetano Donizetti
Libretto By
Felice Romani

Synopsis

Act I

Giannetta and a group of farmhands are finishing their morning harvesting. Nemorino watches Adina from a distance, sad about being too poor to offer her anything but his love and too shy to approach her. Adina reads the story of Tristan and Isolde and how Tristan won Isolde’s affection with a love potion. Sergeant Belcore arrives with his regiment of soldiers. He flirts with the girls and then declares his passion for Adina, asking her to marry him. She is flattered but refuses the offer. The farmhands return to work, and Nemorino finds the courage to declare his love for Adina. She laughs at him, telling him she is too capricious to settle down. Dr. Dulcamara arrives with a supply of patent medicine for sale. Nemorino asks him if he knows of the magic elixir of love with which Tristan won Isolde. Dulcamara replies that it was he who created it and he sells a bottle of it to Nemorino. The lad drinks it at once, not realizing that it is simply Bordeaux wine, and the effect of the alcohol is immediate. Certain that he will win Adina’s love, Nemorino begins to treat her indifferently. To get even, Adina begins to flirt with Belcore and finally agrees to marry him. When orders arrive calling for Belcore to report to duty at once, he and Adina decide to wed that very evening.

Artists

Dimitri Pittas headshot

Dimitri Pittas

Tenor

Nemorino

Jennifer Black headshot

Jennifer Black

Soprano

Adina

Patrick Carfizzi headshot

Patrick Carfizzi

Bass-Baritone

Belcore

Thomas Hammons headshot

Thomas Hammons

Bass

Dr. Dulcamara

Rachel Schutz headshot

Rachel Schutz

Soprano

Gianetta

Corrado Rovaris

Corrado Rovaris

Conductor

Stephen Lawless

Stephen Lawless

Director

Ashley Martin-Davis

Ashley Martin-Davis

Scenic & Costume Designer

Pat Collins headshot

Pat Collins

Lighting Designer

Susanne Sheston

Susanne Sheston

Chorus Director