Dates and Times:
Friday, March 12, 2004 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 14, 2004 at 2 p.m.

Single Ticket Prices:
$10, 15, 20, 30, 35 (discounts available for seniors, youth, and groups)

Season Ticket Packages:
This concert is part of the CU Opera season ticket package.

Location:
Macky Auditorium

Running Time:
Two and one half hours

Event Overview:
Spring has sprung in the Italian countryside and young Nemorino desperately tries to win the love of beautiful and wealthy Adina with the help of a mysterious elixir provided by the shady Doctor Dulcamara. Though the elixir turns out to be red wine of a dubious vintage, there is no doubt that the appeal of Donizetti’s charming music and amusing story is very real. Sung in Italian with English surtitles.

Synopsis:
Act I
The act opens on a pastoral scene with the beautiful and witty heroine, Adina, entertaining the day laborers of the village with the story of Tristan & Isolde (the lovers of Nordic mythology). Pining away among the listeners is Nemorino who is captivated by Adina and who expresses (barely, if not bravely ) in the lovely cavatina, "Quanto è bella, quanto è cara." Adina, however, is comfortable in her coquetry and reticence to make commitment; she even goes as far as to trample the young Nemorino's affectionate protestation. Scene 2 introduces the swaggering, Belcore and his lovely aria di sortita, "Come Paride vezzosa." The sergeant's proposal to Adina meets with more success, principally as she sees her acknowledgment of the latter an apt foil in confounding the hapless bumpkin.

The village is soon roused by the entrance of a "snake-oil" salesman, Il dottore Dulcamara. The naive and credulous paesans (in their isolation and gullibility) quickly elevate the doctor to the status of sage, and this is a salesman who can play a trump card to perfection. His extraordinary basso aria is a show-stopper nonpareil, and remains a touchstone of this comic masterpiece and the opera buffa genre at large. Basically, the doctor is selling an elixir that does it all. And Nemorino's panting necessity quickly converts it into the potion of love mentioned in the Tristan tale.

After being advised on its usage, in a charming duet for the tenor/bass complement, Nemorino sets out with new-found confidence, and soon surprises Adina who, to set this latest embodiment of the buffoonish village Romeo straight, agrees to more impatient demands of the wooing Sgt. Belcore that they be married the very next day!

Act II
The second and last act opens at the pre-nuptial feast with Dr. Dulcamara an honored guest rendering a wedding ditty in duet with Adina. Nemorino, meanwhile, is desperate that the potion does not seem to be doing its thing. He importunes the Doctor for another dose, but finally has to agree to enlist in Belcore's regiment in order to use the recruitment pay for the dram. This occasions a baritone/tenor duet as rich textually and melodically as this buffa opera is throughout. After the contractual arrangements impress Nemorino, the chorus of village girls announce (to all but Nemorino and Adina's ears) that his rich uncle has just died, bequeathing Nemorino a fortune. They, naturally, flirt with the new "lucky catch." Nemorino believes his new attractiveness to be a result of the extra love potion.

Adina comes upon the scene and is at first alarmed that Nemorino (who we are aware by now is truly more admired than scorned by our heroine) can be so cavalier in his apparent last hour (before the marriage of his expressed heart's desire). The Doctor brags that his love potion is thus so demonstrated, turns to Adina and reveals to her that the love-sick Nemorino was willing to consign himself just to win her heart.

Nemorino sings the prized aria, "Una furtiva lagrima" which expresses his unchanging love for Adina. She is completely won over by these revelations and agrees to love only our hero. Dulcamara rides out of town with face saved and still extolling the treasures of his wares.

Principal Cast:
March 12 performer listed first, March 14 second
Adina - Bonnie Draina, Delight Scheck
Nemorino - Andreas Tischhauser (both performances)
Belcore - Sam Mungo, Sang-Joon Yoon
Dulcamara - Ashraf Sewailam (both performances)
Gianetta - Kim Needham, Bonnie Draina

Directors:
Stage Director - William Gustafson
Music Director - Robert Spillman

Audio:
Listen to or purchase music from L'Elisir d'Amor at Barnes&Noble.com. A portion of your purchase will be donated to CU Concerts.
 Elixir of Love

Production Photos: