The Elixir of Love, quarantined

Need to Know

Donizetti (1797-1848) was one of the great Italian composers of the period known as Bel Canto. He along with Bellini and Rossini make up what historians consider the big three composers of this period. He was a workaholic and composed over 70 operas in both Italian and French, as well as 100 songs, several symphonies, oratorios, cantatas, and chamber music. He was such a prolific composer, that we’ve already quarantined two other operas by him, so if you can’t get enough of Donizetti, check out Don Pasquale and La fille de régiment.

Donizetti had already written 35 operas when he composed L’elisir d’amore. The composer excelled in producing both tragic/dramatic operas as well as comic, L’elisir is the earliest of his great comic operas.

Donizetti’s three greatest comic operas are L’elisir d’amore, La fille du régiment, and Don Pasquale. He composed L’elisir d’amore in two weeks and it became an instant success after its premiere at the Teatro della Canobbiana in 1832.

L’elisir d’amore is an opera buffo in two acts. Librettist Felice Romani adapted the plot from Daniel Auber’s Le philtre. The opera went on to be the most performed opera in Italy between 1838 and 1848; it continues to be in the top 15 most performed operas in the world today.

The aria that almost never happened!

L’elisir d’amore has one of opera’s greatest tenor aria in it, “Una furtiva lagrima" or “A Furtive Tear” - even it’s title brings a tear to our eye! All puns aside, the aria almost never happened. Donizetti gets all the credit for insisting it stay in the opera. Librettist Felice Romani objected to the melancholy romanza, believing it would dampen the comic spirit of the work. Thankfully, Donizetti won out and we have an aria that has become an Italian aria all-time hit. Listen to a few of our favorite tenors sing the aria: Caruso, Pavarotti, Brownlee, Grigolo.

Pour me some of that Elixir!

Your pre-opera cocktail for Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore is a love potion by the same name. The elixir of love cocktail is sweet and creamy and will make all fall in love. Watch John build it here, PS… no one cried over spilt milk in the recording of this cocktail.

Ingredients: 1/2 ounce White Rum, 1 oz Amaretto, 1 oz Chocolate Liqueur, 1 oz. Heavy Cream, Chocolate Shavings for garnish. Directions: Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice, shake and strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice. Garnish with shaved chocolate, enjoy!

Synopsis

Plot in a minute!

Nemorino loves Adina, but doesn’t think he can win the affection of this intelligent and independent woman. To make matters worse, competition gets even harder when the handsome sergeant Belcore arrives and proposes to Adina. In despair, the naive Nemorino finds a solution when a traveling quack, Dr. Dulcamara, arrives and offers him an “Elixir of Love” to win Adina. Dulcamara tells him the elixir, which is actually wine, will start to work in 24 hours. After sipping the elixir and quickly feeling its affects, Nemorino becomes overly confident and is rude to Adina. Out of spite, she agrees to marry Belcore.

The next day, Nemorino is desperate for more of the elixir, but is out of money to pay Dulcamara. Belcore, wanting to get rid of his rival, offers Nemorino money in return for enlisting in the army, he agrees and drinks all of the elixir. In the mean time, news has gotten to all the women in the village that Nemorino’s uncle has died and left him his fortune. They all clamor for his attention, causing him to think the elixir is working and for Adina to become jealous. Adina eventually learns all from Dulcamara and realizes Nemorino’s feelings for her. She pays back Belcore the recruitment fee and she and Nemorino admit their love for each other. Dulcamara is overjoyed with the proof that his “elixir” is powerful enough to give you love and wealth!