Donizetti - L'Elisir d'amore - Freni, Casellato, Basiola, Bruscantini - Rossi - RAI Torino

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L’elisir d’amore (The Elixir of Love), an Italian comic opera (opera buffa), was written by Gaetano Donizetti in just two weeks. Premiered in Milan in 1832, it was immediately a tremendous success. Its amusing and witty plot describing relationships of a loving couple and beautiful, melodious and light music make L’elisir d’amore one of the most frequently performed 19th-century Italian operas. The libretto of the opera, written after the French playwright Eugene Scribe’s comedy, is based on the legend about the magic love potion, taken from Gottfried von Strassburg’s courtly romance Tristan. The unexpected, mock interpretation of the medieval legend gives it a new meaning: people are capable of filling each other with the elixir of love and kindness without any magic potion. The feelings experienced by the opera’s characters – love, coquetry, rivalry, jealousy – are everlasting as life. So, the story of L’elisir d’amore could be set at a Venetian carnival several centuries ago, just as well as in a present-day town. ~ novayaopera.ru L'elisir is a good-natured story in which the peasant Nemorino attempts to win the heart of his love, Adina, through the injestion of a farcical magic elixir (in fact merely Bordeaux wine). The phony "medicine man," Dr. Dulcamara, and the superlatively stuffy army sergeant, Belcore (who is Nemorino's rival for Adina's love), fill out the roster. ~ answers.com

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The Main Characters in L’elisir d’amore (Elixir of Love):
Adina, a young, rich girl from the country (soprano)
Nemorino, a poor farmer, in-love with Adina (tenor)
Sergeant Belcore, a visiting soldier (baritone)
Dr. Dulcamara, a traveling quack doctor (basso buffo)
Giannetta, a village girl (soprano)

Basic Plot Summary of L’elisir d’amore (Elixir of Love):
Act I

Nemorino and the other farm workers listen as Adina tells the story of Tristan and Isolde. (and their love potion) Nemorino knows that it is impossible to be in-love with such a beautiful and smart woman. Sgt. Belcore arrives and is struck with Adina’s beauty, giving her a flower and proposing to her that they should marry at once. Nemorino tells Adina of his love for her, but she laughs and urges him to find someone else, claiming that she is too fickle. A quack doctor, Dulcamara, arrives and Nemorino (who remembers the Tristan and Isolde story from earlier) asks him if he happens to have any of Isolde’s love-potion. Dulcamara sells Nemorino a bottle of “love-potion,” (The Elixir of Love) which is actually just some cheap wine. Dulcamara claims that the “Elixir of Love” will work within 24 hours. Nemorino drinks the bottle of Elixir, and now is quite confident (and quite tipsy). Nemorino sees Adina agree to marry Belcore within a week. Belcore receives orders that he is to leave in the morning, so Adina moves up the wedding, crushing Nemorino
Act II

With Nemorino not in attendance, the wedding is delayed. Nemorino, who is penniless, is desperate for more love potion. He enlists in the regiment and takes the money he earns from enlisting to purchase another bottle of potion. After drinking the second bottle of wine the village girls all begin to swarm around him. They have heard the news (which Nemorino has yet to hear) that his rich uncle has died, leaving him with a hefty inheritance. Nemorino assumes that the attention is due to his second bottle of Elixir. Dulcamara tells Adina about the love potion and even offers her some. She refuses, saying that she has no need for such a potion. She realizes that she has loved Nemorino all along. On his way to join the regiment, Nemorino spots a tear in Adina’s eye and knows that she loves him, too. Adina purchases Nemorino’s freedom from his army commission. The village celebrates the good fortunes of the "Elixir of Love" and Dulcamara sells his remaining wine to the villagers who are convinced that the love potion works.

More info about Gaetano Donizetti, here and here.
More about L'Elisir d'amore here and here.
More about Sesto Bruscantini here, and about Mirella Freni here.

Track Listings

CD1

1. ACT ONE Scene 1: Bel conforto al mietitore
2. Quanto e bella, quanto e cara
3. Benedette queste carte ! Della crudele Isotta
4. Scene II: Come Paride vezzoso
5. Piu tempo, oh Dio, non perdere
6. Scene III: Una Parole, o Adina
7. Chiedi all'aura lusinghiera
8. Per guarir di tal pazzia
9. Scene IV: Che vuol dire codesta sonata ?
10. Scene V: Udite, udite, o rustici
11. Scene VI: Ardir ! Ha Forse il cielo
12. Voglio dire... lo stupendo
13. Scene VII: Caro Elisir ! Sei mio
14. Scene VIII: Esulti pur la barbara
15. Scene IX: Tran tran, tran tran, tran tran
16. Scene X: Signor sergente, signor sergente
17. Adina, credimi, te ne scongiuro

CD 2

1. SECOND ACT. Scene 1 Cantiamo, facciam brindisi
2. Io son ricco, e tu sei bella
3. Scene II: Le feste nuziali
4. Scene III: La donna e un animale
5. Ai perigli della guerra
6. Scene IV: Saria possible ?
7. Scene V: Dell'elisir
8. Scene VI: Come sen va contento
9. Quanto amore ! ed io, spietata
10. Una tenera occiatina
11. Scene VII: Una Furtiva lacrima
12. Scene VIII: Prendi; per me sei libero
13. Ultimate scene: Alto !. . .fronte ! Che Vedo
14. I corregge ogni difetto


Product Details

L' elisir d'amore by Gaetano Donizetti performed in Italian
Conductor Mario Rossi - 1968(RA)
Orchestra - RAI Torino
Chorus - RAI Torino
Adina - Mirella Freni
Nemorino - Renzo Casellato
Dulcamara - Sesto Bruscantini
Belcore - Mario Basiola jnr.
Giannetta - Elena Zilio
Recorded: 1968
Frequenz 043-009 (2CDS)
1989



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