Donizetti LElisir damore

A village somewhere in the Italian countryside a wayside inn on a road crossed by the occasional dog Nothing more Laurent Pellys production presents a deserted landscape in which the turbulent arrival of Doctor Dulcamara causes a sensation And with good reason He is said to be the inventor of a mysterious love potion In opera love philtres often provoke terrible tragedies They also provide the pretext for this gentle comedy in which Sergeant Belcore and the timid Nemorino vie with each other for beautiful Adinas heart The stage is set Bring on the music which if we are to believe Donizetti was composed in a fortnight