A Student Guide to
L’Elisir d’Amore By Gaetano Donizetti
Act I On a farm in a beautiful Italian village nestled in the foot of the Alps Mountains, Adina, the flirtatious proprietress, sits with her friend Giannetta and other villagers as they rest from harvesting the fields. The lovesick Nemorino timidly keeps his distance and secretly pines for Adina. The villagers persuade Adina to read to them the well-known story of Tristan and Isolde of how a love potion helped Tristan win the heart of Isolde. She finishes the story just as Sergeant Belcore swaggers into town with his garrison. He immediately recognizes Adina as the most beautiful and wealthiest young woman in the village, chivalrously presents her with a flower, and asks for her hand in marriage. Adina, amused, agrees to think it over. Nemorino, who secretly witnessed this proposal, is consumed by jealousy. This propels him to muster the courage to confess his love to Adina. Haughty and fickle, she replies that he should spend his time caring for his ailing uncle rather than pursue her. In the piazza, the town center, the villagers surround Dr. Dulcamara, a traveling salesman who claims his inexpensive potions will cure any ailment, and the villagers eagerly buy them. Nemorino asks Dr. Dulcamara if he sells the love potion described in the story Adina recounted. Though the doctor has never heard Tristan and Isolde, he replies that he does indeed sell
that potion. With his last few coins, Nemorino buys a bottle, which, unknown to him, is only red wine, and drinks its entire contents. He is instructed that the desired effect will take place in 24 hours. Adina arrives to find a cheerful, tipsy Nemorino. She proclaims her decision to marry Sergeant Belcore in one week. Amused, Nemorino feigns indifference since he believes she will be his by the next day. Adina, perplexed by his sudden change of heart, flirts with Belcore only to discover he and his garrison must leave the following morning. Belcore persuades Adina to marry him that very evening. A crushed Nemorino attempts to talk Adina out of her hasty decision and to wait one more day, but she ignores him. Act II Adina and Belcore’s wedding celebration is underway and Dr. Dulcamara offers to sing a duet with Adina. When the duet ends, Adina and Sergeant Belcore prepare to sign their marriage contract, but Adina stalls because Nemorino is not present. When he finally arrives, Nemorino begs Dr. Dulcamara for a second bottle of elixir, but he refuses because Nemorino has no more money. Belcore persuades Nemorino to join the army by explaining that he will be given a commission (salary). This enables him to buy more elixir immediately, so the desperate young villager agrees.
Meanwhile, the women in the village are gossiping. Giannetta heard that Nemorino’s uncle has just died, leaving him a considerable inheritance. Nemorino arrives, having downed a second bottle of elixir hoping to Adina (soprano) – a young, rich, and capricious speed the process along. landowner Giddy and unaware of his Nemorino (tenor) – a farmer and simple youth in new fortune, Nemorino love with Adina believes it can only be the Sergeant Belcore (bass) – the sergeant of the elixir that has caused all the garrison in the village women in the village to flirt and vie for his attention. Dr. Dulcamara (bass) – a traveling medicine man When Adina and Belcore Giannetta (soprano) – a pretty country girl and arrive, they are Adina’s friend (continued on page 2)
CHARACTERS