Time and Date: 7:30 pm, daily, Sep. 10-13, 2011
Place: NCPA-Opera House, Beijing (Location)
Tel: 6417-7845, 400-610-3721
Tickets: 100/180/280/400/460/520/580/680
Booking at: http://en.piao.com.cn/beijing/ticket_4166.html

A stage photo of Donizetti's Opera: L'elisir d'Amore. [File Photo]

L'elisir d'amore is a work of Italian famous opera composer Gaetano Donizetti. It was premiered in Milan on May 12, 1832. Donizetti is a very productive opera composer. During 30 years in his life, he created more than 70 operas. One of his most excellent operas was finished with only seven days and another with only six weeks. Donizetti's most popular operas include Lucia Di Lammermoorr (1833), Don Pasquale (1843), L'elisir d'amore (1832) and La Fille du Regiment (1840), which were all finished in the 10 years of his most active creation period. During the 30 to 40 years in 19th century, Donizetti and Bellini were the major figures among the whole Italian opera circle. Donizetti and Bellini both have strong ability in melody composition. However, Donizetti is better in dramatic aspect and his orchestration is more outstanding and thoroughly considered due to the instruction of his teacher Simon Mayr, which also depends on Donizetti's extreme familiarity with all kinds of musical instruments. There is an example of his good application in instrumental casting: In Nemorino's famous aria Una furtiva lagrima in L'elisir d'amore, Act II, Donizetti uses bassoon to lead out the aria with harp as the background.

A stage photo of Donizetti's Opera: L'elisir d'Amore. [File Photo]

 Synopsis

The rich and beautiful female landlord Adina fell in love with the young peasant Nemorino. However, Nemorino lacked the courage to pursue love, which made Adina very angry. Sergeant Belcore came to this village with his soldiers and he wanted to win Adina's heart with his fiery love. Facing such a rival in love, Nemorino felt very upset. Then a quack Dulcamara came and cheated him that after buying and drinking his "L'elisir d'amore" (actually inferior French red wine), he could gain Adina's love. Nemorino drank and it really had special effect, making him singing and dancing. However, it made Adina even angrier and she got engaged to the Sergeant in a pet. Before the troop's departure, Adina was ready to marry the Sergeant. Nemorino was very sad and in order to get greater medical effect, he bought another bottle of "L'elisir d'amore". But he had no more money and got enrolled for military service so as to pay for it. Adina knew Nemorino's agony and she also still loved him. When the Sergeant forced her to sign the contract, she finally woke up. Then, she bought back Nemorino's enrollment paper from the Sergeant and liberated him. When Nemorino threatened her that he would go to the battle and seek for death, she fell into his arms in a faint... Seeing this, the Sergeant had no choice but to lead his troop away. The doctor Dulcamara became famous and rich because of his "L'elisir d'amore", while Adina and Nemorino got happiness.