The Elixir of Love

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The Elixir of Love Opera Synopsis

Adina, a well-to-do landowner, has bought a book about the legendary lovers, Tristan and Isolde. She has been reading about the love potion that turned Isolde’s hatred for Tristan into love and she wishes for a love potion of her own to magically conjure a husband. Nemorino, a poor farmer secretly in love with Adina, would also like a love potion capable of capturing her heart.

Belcore, an army sergeant, is struck by Adina’s beauty and openly pursues her. Nemorino watches Belcore courting Adina and is heart-sick that he may never have a chance with her. Belcore presses Adina to marry him immediately; however, the lady is unsure. She begs for a little time to think over his offer of marriage as Belcore departs. Finding himself alone with Adina, at last, Nemorino declares his love. Adina, unimpressed, tells him he has no chance of winning her.

“Doctor” Dulcamara is selling a potent medicine that he claims can set the coldest of hearts on fire. Nemorino buys a bottle with the last bit of money in his pocket. Dulcamara tells Nemorino not to take the elixir until after sunset, giving himself plenty of time to finish peddling his fake medicine and get out of town. However, Nemorino simply cannot wait and takes the elixir immediately. He soon feels the effects of this “magic drink” and thinks that it is the warmth produced by the Elixir of Love.

Nemorino returns to the farm, pretending not to notice Adina. He is hopeful that the elixir will do its job as Dulcamara promised. Adina is not happy that Nemorino seems indifferent to her. Even from a distance she can see that his walk is more confident, and he seems unconcerned and happy. When Belcore returns, Adina agrees to marry him thinking that Nemorino does not really love her. The happy sergeant wants to wed immediately and after some convincing, Adina agrees. Nemorino, wanting more time for the elixir to take effect, begs Adina to wait. The lady agrees to wait until the following day.

Nemorino searches for Dulcamara to buy more elixir. Alas, he is out of money! His only hope is to join the army for the money he will receive. He signs enlistment papers from Belcore, who is privately pleased that Nemorino will be out of the way. Nemorino is equally confident that he will “get the girl” with help from the second bottle of the magic elixir. Dulcamara tells Adina that Nemorino has enlisted in the army in order to buy more of the Elixir of Love. Adina realizes how cruel she has been and how truly Nemorino loves her, while all the women of the town are now after Nemorino. She must find him and ask his forgiveness so they can be together. Meanwhile, Dulcamara tries to sell Adina a bottle of the elixir which she sensibly declines.

Nemorino returns, reflecting on the single tear he had seen in Adina’s eye earlier. He is still hopeful that the elixir will make her love him. Adina finds Nemorino and hands him his enlistment papers she bought back from Belcore to keep him out of the army. She begins to walk away, but the farmer has reached his breaking point: Nemorino insists that if he cannot have her love, he would rather die a simple soldier. At that, Adina admits that she loves him and asks for forgiveness for treating him so poorly before. Dulcamara is happy to take credit for the happy couple. Only Belcore seems to think him a fraud after seeing his fiancée stolen from under his nose. Nemorino and Adina however, are untroubled by such thoughts. They have eyes only for each other, and their loving hearts—as if by magic—now beat as one.