Synopsis
Music by Gaetano Donizetti
Libretto by Felice Romani
Premiered May 12, 1832
Act 1
Scene 1
Nemorino, a shy and simple young man is in love with Adina,
a wealthy country girl. But Adina is willful, and his offers
of love are constantly rejected. Adina is seated apart from
a group of townspeople reading, and Nemorino wonders how
he could possibly win her love since she is so wonderful
and much better than him. She has just come across the legend
of the potion, which bound Tristan and Isolde with undying
love, and reads it aloud to amuse the others. At this point
a drum is heard, and a platoon of soldiers enters, headed
by the dashing and bombastic Sergeant Belcore. Belcore at
once begins to woo Adina, and in spite of his self-assurance
and arrogance, she is flattered; however, to his hasty proposal
of marriage she answers that she would like a little time
to think it over. Nemorino, naturally, is very jealous and
when everyone else leaves, he begs Adina to return his love,
but in vain; she prefers to remain fancy free.
Scene 2
Dr. Dulcamara, a picturesque and loquacious
quack, arrives in the town square, and, before the assembled
townspeople, he sings the praises of his wonderful remedy,
guaranteed to cure all ills. The naïve Nemorino is impressed and
asks whether he also sells the love potion of Queen Isolde.
Naturally Dulcamara obliges him, but warns him that the potion
will take effect only after twenty-four hours - which will
give him enough time to leave town - and that no one must
know about it. Nemorino is now so pleased and sure of himself
that Adina is surprised to find him in a cheerful and confident
mood; he assures her that his heart will be cured within
one day. In a fit of pique, she then tells Belcore that she
will marry him in six days’ time. Nemorino is not worried;
he knows that tomorrow she will fall at his feet. But a message
reached Belcore with an order to leave town in the morning,
so Adina agrees to marry him that very day. Nemorino is now
desperate, but his entreaties to Adina to postpone the wedding
for just one day are all in vain. She invites everyone to
the marriage feast, and they all mock the distraught Nemorino.
Act 2
Scene 1
The marriage feast in anticipation of
the wedding is in progress and Dulcamara is among the guests.
When the minister arrives, Adina hesitates to sign the marriage
contract, as Nemorino is not there and her vengeance would
not be complete without him. As the company goes off elsewhere,
he enters and finding Dulcamara alone, asks for help. Dulcamara
prescribes another dose of his remedy, but Nemorino has no
more money. The doctor gives him a quarter of an hour to
find it. Belcore now enters and persuades Nemorino to enlist
in the army if he wants money, commenting to himself with
glee that to enlist one’s
own rival is quite a clever stroke. Nemorino accepts in the
hope of winning Adina’s love before having to leave.
Scene 2
The news is spreading throughout the town
that Nemorino’s
rich uncle has died, leaving him sole heir. All the local
girls surround him with attention and Nemorino, in his simplicity,
believes this to be the effect of the potion. Adina is astonished
at his popularity, and so is Dulcamara, who tells her about
the potion. She is deeply moved, especially when she hears
that Nemorino has sold his freedom for her. She realizes
that she is, in fact, in love with him. Nemorino notices
that she is weakening and is delighted. When Adina comes
back with the enlistment papers, which she has just bought
from Belcore, she admits to Nemorino that she loves him;
and when Dulcamara lets slip the news he has just heard about
the inheritance, Nemorino’s happiness is complete.
Dulcamara, of course, attributes all this good fortune to
his own magic elixir, and all the townspeople rush to buy
it. Finally everyone except Belcore blesses him as he departs
for the next town. |
