Vienna State Opera

I recently picked up the DVD of an opera by Gaetano Donizetti called L’Elisir d’Amore (i.e. The Elixer of Love). This is a recording of a 2005 performance at the Vienna State Opera. It was conducted by Alfred Eschwé. The opera stars

• Anna Netrebko (soprano) as Adina,
• Rolando Villazón (tenor) as Nemorino,
• Leo Nucci (baritone) as Belcore, and
• Ildebrando D’Arcangelo (bass) as Dulcamara

This is opera buffo at its best! Nemorino, a simple-minded young man, is in love with Adina, who is impressed by the dashing Sergeant Belcore, a man overly impressed with his own charms. Dulcamara arrives in the village, offering panaceas of his own fraudulent design. Nemorino seeks a love potion which is happily provided by Dulcamara, but the love potion is actually just a bottle of wine. Adina, meanwhile, has agreed to marry Belcore, forcing Nemorino to obtain more elixir from Dulcamara, which he can only pay for by enlisting in Belcore’s troop. Rumor reaches the village that Nemorino has inherited a fortune, and he now finds himself immensely popular among the girls of the village, arousing Adina’s jealousy. When Dulcamara tells her that Nemorino has enlisted in order to find a way to her heart, she relents, dismisses Belcore and agrees to marry Nemorino, after buying him out of the regiment.

The music was absolutely wonderful and the performances were fantastic. Anna Netrebko’s voice was superb and her portrayal of the coy, teasing Adina was striking to say the least. Nucci did a great job as the pompous Sergeant Belcore and D’Arcangelo’s Doctor Dulcamara was outstanding and affectionately sleazy!

The best of the show was Rolando Villazón! His Nemorino was a perfect match for Netrebko’s Adina. I love these two best when they perform together! Villazón is an amazing actor and his performance ranged from comical (especially when getting a little tipsy after drinking the love potion) to softly heartwarming. I laughed out loud at his silly bottle dance and was surprised by his juggling skill (yes, he juggled apples). He absolutely stole the show when he sang, “Una furtiva lagrima,” (A furtive tear) his soft, quiet expression–a pianissimo–and breathtaking decrescendo at the end earned a welcomed encore for the young tenor!

Photo: Rolando Villazón and Anna Netrebko in L’Elisir d’Amore.