DAY 15

Act 1
A village at harvest time. The villagers are enjoying a siesta. Just like every day, Nemorino, a young and naive peasant, admires from afar the beautiful Adina,a rich and capricious farm owner(Quanto è Bella). Adina, who takes an interest in the arts, is reading the leagend of Tristan and Isolde and having a good laugh at the story of the love potion. She even reads the story to the peasants(Della crudele Isotta). Thereupon enters the aptly named Sergeant Belcore at the head of his squadron. During a public seduction scene he propsesto Adina (Come Paride vezzoso). Adina asks him to wait a while(Non è si facile, Adina a conquistare)and offers him refreshments. Nemorino, hurt, declares his love, and declares that he is willing to die for Adina. However she discourages him. She is fickle and does not want to love him(Chiedi all'aura lusinghiera).

Doctor Dulcamara, a barker, arrives upon the scene(Udite, udite rustici). He sells a magic elixir that cures all ailments from wrinkles to diabetes to paralysis. Nemorino has an idea: the peddler much surely possess Queen Isolde's love potion(L'elisir che desta amore). Dulcamara, delighted to come across such an idiot, confirms that he has it(Io ne son distallatore). He sells Nemorino a small bottle of Bordeaux and promises him that he will feel the affects within 24hrs. Just in time he himself will need to leave the village. An overjoyed Nemorino tests the potion and finishes off the bottle. Convinced that he is feeling the first affects of the elixir(Caro elisir!) and that Adina will soon fall in love with him, Nemorino freigns indifference. A furious Adina agrees to marry Belcore within six days. Nemorino remains unperturbed. The potion will take effect by the next day(Ah! Va ben cosi!). However, unexpected complications oblige Belcore to leave for the war the nest day. No matter, Adina will marry the soldier the very same day! Nemorino, who has now sobered up, begs Adina to wait(Adina credimi). However the latter, offended, invites the whole village to the wedding. Nemorino is grief-stricken(Dottore! Dottore! Soccorso! Pietà!).


Act 2
The wedding party is in full swing. The guests drink, joke and sing bar-carolles for two voices(La Nina Gondoliera). Nemorino has stayed away from the celebrations and Adina is disappointed(Compita non mi par la vendetta). Everyone steps outside for the signing of the wedding contract leaving Dulcamara alone at the buffet. Nemorino arrives, on the verge of suicide(Oh me infelice!). Dulcamara advises him to take another dose of the potion. But Nemorino has no more money and resolves to join the ranks alongside Belcore to be able to afford another bottle of the magical Bordeaux(Fatti soldato et venti scudi avrai).

The village girls have heard that Nemorino's had died. He has inherited a fortune(Immensa eredità). All of a sudden they find Nemorino very handsome and become very friendly with him. "It's the magic potion" thinks the peasant who finishes his second bottle(E questa l'opera del magico liquore). Adina, observing Nemorino's success and discovering that he has joined up in order to win her love, at last decides to give hime her love. Dulcamara offers her a little of the magic potion but Adina places her trust in the power of her eyes(In quest'occhi è l'elisir). Nemorino, who has seen Adina's distress, is delighted(Una furtiva lagrima). Adina hands him his enlistment forms that she has bought back from Belcore(Prendi:per me sei libero)before, finally, falling into his arms(Ti giuro eterno amor). Belcore sets off to find another wife(Pieno di donne è il mondo).

The villagers fall over themselves to buy Dulcamara's marvellous potion that brings love and riches.

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