Laurent Pelly places this romantic comedy in the 50s Italy, Vespa included.
A simple but effective plot (a shy and naive young peasant buys a charlatan a love potion, actually a simple bottle of wine, to conquer the girl he is in love with; the beauty will finally realize that he loves the young man without the help of the elixir), a joyous musical language with bright and particularly inspired melodies (including the famous "Una furtiva lagrima"), made this opera composed in 15 days by Donizetti a true masterpiece.
Transposing the action into Italy in the 1950s, director Laurent Pelly achieves a true gem, finely chiseled and highly poetic.
With the collaboration of Naxos
Melodramma giocoso in two acts
Music by Gaetano Donizetti
Libretto by Felice Romani
Co-production of the Opéra National de Paris-Bastille and the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, London
Orchestra of the Opéra National de Paris
Artistic team
Conductor | Edward Gardner
Stage director and costumes designer | Laurent Pelly
Set designer | Chantal Thomas
Lighting designer | Joël Adam
Cast
Adina | Heidi Grant Murphy
Nemorino | Paul Groves
Belcore | Laurent Naouri
Dulcamara | Ambrogio Maestri
Giannetta | Aleksandra Zamojska