Elixir of Love

Introducing the new “L’elisir d’amore”, the latest opera from 21st century American composer William Copper. The re-imagined and completely rewritten opera, based on the original 19th century libretto, takes you on a musical journeyexploring tales of love, attraction, longing, and loyalty.  Every note and rhythm meticulously placed, bringing a breath of fresh air to this timeless narrative.  Beautiful melodic lines, rhythmic excitement, and a unique dramatic experience.

from the Act II duet: Una tenera occhiatina – (“A Held Little Eye-glance”)

DULCAMARA ..hai lambico e hai fornello caldo più d’un Mongibello per filtrar l’amor che vuoi, per bruciare e incenerir. (.. you have a furnace and a forge hotter than a Mount Etna, to filter love as you wish, to blaze and burn.)

ADINA Una tenera occhiatina, un soriso, una carezza, vincer può chi più si ostina, ammollir chi più ci sprezza. (A held little eye-touch, a smile, a caress, can vanquish one most obstinate, soften one most scornful.) Ne ho veduti tanti e tanti presi cotti, spasimanti, che nemmanco Nemorino, non potrar da me fuggir. (I have seen it often and often, for those caught and cooked on love, not excluding Nemorino, not able from me to flee.)

from the Act II aria: Una furtiva lagrima – (“A Secret Tear”)

NEMORINO Quelle festose giovani invidiar sembrò. Che più cercando io vo’? M’ama, lo vedo. (Those jolly girls she envied it seemed. What more searching would I want? She loves me, I see it. )

from the Act I trio: La rabbia che mi fa! – (“The Rage it Causes Me!”)

BELCORE Se non va via di qua! (If you don’t get out of here!)

NEMORINO Ha, ha! Doman se ne avvedrà! (Ha, ha! Tomorrow you will see it!)

ADINA La rabbia che mi fa! (The rage it makes me!)

from the Act II chorus: Cantiamo, facciam brindisi! – (“Let’s Sing, Make Toasts!”)

CORO Cantiamo, cantiamo facciam brindisi a sposi così amabili.  (Let’s sing, let’s sing and make toasts to the couple so loveable.)

from the Act II Aria: Nel dolce incanto – (“In the Sweet Enchantment”)

ADINA al petto stringimi, sgombra il timore. Immensa l’estasi del mio piacer. (to your chest press me, clear away the fears. Immense the ecstasy of my peace.)

What is the “potion?” Indeed, what causes a person to fall in love? One of the splendors of the libretto is just how many possibilities Felice Romani, librettist, has illustrated. For one heavy with years, perhaps the answer lies in “l’amabile vista del banchetto” (“The adorable view of a banquet”). For another, the answer is found in “Non v’ha bella che resista alla vista d’un cimiero” (“You’ll not have a beauty who resists the vista of a uniform”). William Copper’s use of Intonalism allows each possibility to be expressed with its own unique new music, giving 21st century opera a new element.

Is love nothing more than physical attraction? Like the Paris of mythology, Sergeant Belcore is most attractive and most confident. Or is love more about power and position, as when Senator Tredenti (Senator Three-tooth) charms the gondolieress? Maybe money is the key to love, as told through “Nemorino è milionario” (“Now Nemorino is a millionaire”).

Perhaps love is contrariety, as depicted via “Chi mi disprezza m’è forza amar” (Act II, Scene 7, “Who misprizes me, I’m forced to love”). Or maybe it is all about wiles, as detailed by “Una tenera occhiatina, un soriso, una carezza” (“A held little eye-glance, a smile, a caress”)?

Last of all, perhaps love is distilled in a bottle, and – as Dr. Dulcamara says – available for purchase providing you have the coin. Everyone gets something different from L’elisir d’amore, which is why it remains one of the most popular operas in the world after all these years.

from the Act II duet: Prendi, per me sei libero. (“Take It, by Me You are Free.”)

ADINA Qui dove tutti t’amano, saggio amoroso, onesto, sempre scontento e mesto; no non sarai così. (Here where all love you, wise, amorous, honest, always discontented and sad; no, you don’t have to be so.)

NEMORINO Or, or, sì spiega. (Now, now, she explains herself.)

Technical Information:

Opera in 2 Acts

Duration: Approximately 2 hours 15 minutes

Orchestra: A small orchestra of about 28 players or a reduced orchestra based on a string quartet plus a flexible set of additional single players. The Piano/Vocal score is available for rehearsal.

Characters:

• Nemorino: Tenor
• Adina: Soprano
• Belcore: Baritone
• Dulcamara: Baritone
• Giannetta: Mezzo
• Chorus: SATB