Amazon.com: Donizetti's L'Elisir d'Amore is one of the staples of the comic opera repertory. The plot hinges on whether earnest but dim-witted Nemorino will snag Adina, the flirtatious heroine. She's a tease who takes up with Belcore, an army sergeant, to make Nemorino jealous. After numerous (and humorous) plot twists that include a phony love potion, it all ends happily. Adina and Nemorino declare their love for each other, Belcore is dumped, and the fraudulent Dulcamara does a landslide business in love potions. It's all a fast-moving bundle of fun, especially with the star-filled cast of this 2005 Vienna State Opera performance.
The leads are magnificent. Rolando Villazón as Nemorino exhibits a real gift for comic acting, manipulating his rubber face into dozens of hilarious poses, flawlessly turning stock comic gestures into laugh-out-loud moments, and even juggling apples with the panache of a circus performer. More important, he uses his lyric tenor to sing the part with impressive subtlety, suggesting Nemorino's desperation while singing of his love for Adina. His big show-stopper, "Una furtuva lagrima," features melting pianissimos and a breathtaking decrescendo in its final phrase. It literally stops the show, the audience forcing a welcome encore. Netrebko's Adina is every bit as good, with deft acting and a lovely lyric soprano voice that makes you understand why she's the only girl for Nemorino. Dulcamara is Ildebrando D'Arcangelo, whose ample bass joins a stage presence that puts him at the center of his scenes. His famous duet, "Venti scudi," with Villazón, is the highlight it should be. Veteran baritone Leo Nucci is Sergeant Belcore and while his singing tends to the dry and effortful, he's convincingly sleazy, adding to the laughs. Smaller parts and the chorus are fine and conductor Alfred Eschwé efficiently keeps the music bubbling along.
Otto Schenk's production, with sets and costumes by Jürgen Rose, dates from 1980 but still looks fresh with a village square dominating the picture-postcard view of a provincial Italian village. The costumes are realistic, with predominantly pastel colors for the villagers, bright colors for Belcore and his soldiers, and relatively nondescript outfits for the others, though Netrebko can't help exuding glamour no matter what she wears. The video direction smoothly focuses on singers and the stage action, but the sound recording is overly resonant, with inconsistent dynamics and the chorus' words obscured. Still, this is the preferred L'Elisir d'Amore. --Dan Davis
Pleasant production This dvd was my first experience of the entire opera and I must say the music is serviceable if forgettable and naturally requires some awesome singers. Everyone in the cast is fully into their roles and you can't fault the acting, the tenor as others have noted, completely inhabiting his character and delivering a comic performance of outstanding quality. The main problem with the music is that there are a lot of notes hiding the lack of a good tune until our hero sings Una furtiva lagrima in the second act notable for it's lack of decorative notes and the beauty and simplicity of it's melody. He is rewarded with such a long ovation that he finally breaks character and the conductor decides "Well, let's do it again fella." He sings the aria again to another stunning ovation and tears come to his eyes. Anna gets quite a nice ovation after she sings her dazzling aria declaring her love. Kudos to the supporting players Dr. Dulcamara and Seargant Belcore. An enjoyable romp.
Generally delightful, with an unfortunate cut L'Elisir D'Amore is one of the finest operas in the repertoire. Its melodies flow so effortlessly that it's easy to lose sight of how fine and inspired Donizetti's accomplishment is. And it's been well served on DVD (e.g., the Met version with Pavarotti, Battle, etc.).
This is a delightful production of L'Elisir, one that for sheer comedy is equalled only (to my knowledge) by Pelly's production of Fille du Regiment with Natalie Dessay. Rolando Villazon's Nemorino is the embodiment of what would happen if Harpo Marx found his voice, and it turned out to be a gorgeous tenor. The duet "Voglio dire, lo stupendo elisir" where Nemorino buys the "elixir" from Dr. Dulcamara (Ildebrando D'Archangelo) is not only beautiful music beautifully sung, but a laugh-out-loud marvel of timing and energy that I've watched at least a dozen times. It's worth the price of the DVD all by itself.
But I usually switch over to my DVD of the Met version for Act II. Perhaps by this time in the opera I'm finding Anna Netrebko's Adina overly coltish. For all that the Met version is more static, I seem to find the denouement more moving. One big reason for my switch is a substantial cut in the Villazon/Netrebko version. We lose Adina's dialogue with Nemorino while all the village girls are making up to him, and the wonderful ensuing quartet. I have no idea why this number was cut; it's not only a highlight of the show, but the point that signals the beginning of Adina's change of heart. In a way, the cut is a backhanded tribute to the high quality Donizetti maintains throughout "L'Elisir." In virtually any other opera, cutting material this good would be unthinkable.
On the other hand, I like Leo Nucci's Belcore in this version better than Juan Pons in the Met version. Both sing well, but Nucci, while a little old for the role, captures Belcore's bluster and bullying perfectly. Pons' portrayal is bland by comparison.
I could make more comparisons between the two versions, but I'll close by saying that I wouldn't willingly part with either of them. Lovers of this eminently lovable opera are lucky indeed.
Villazon Knocks Em Out Astounding audience reception of Villazon's virtuosity! Netrebko was great! Characters were most believable and voices simply grand. A lot of fun to watch!
L'Elisir D"Amore By Donizzetti The most thrilling, exilarating, touching warm and yet funny operatic presentation of any Operatic score I've ever seen in my Life!!!!!!!!!!!!! A+++++ Villazon is the most lyric spinto Tenor I have ever heard. He is in a cast by himself. Netrebko matches Rolando in every scene and that superb voice WOW A++++++++++++. I've seen the DVD four times already.Recomend anyone to buy and have a ball A++++++++++++
An absolute Joy...... This is one of the finest opera DVDs it has ever been my pleasure to watch...now, that may be because I prefer laughing to crying, but I've given five stars to tear jerkers, too. This is Opera Buffa in all its glory...we come to have fun, not to ponder the meaning of life. Sometimes this can degenerate into slapstick, but these wonderful performers never did, even when Anna broke character to applaud Villazon's juggling act...yes, she broke character...look at her face....Villazon breaks character, too, but that was necessary to coordinate the encore of "una furtiva lagrima" with Maestro Eschwe. [And what an encore]!
Every one of the principals was perfectly cast, and in fine form. Rolando Villazon is all we have come to expect as the hapless Nemorino...we could almost believe he's the local fool. Anna Netrebko is absolutely delectable...she does everything well, and it's nice to see her live to the end of the show. Her comic by-play with all the other characters is flawless. Leo Nucci as the lustful Sgt. Belcore is an old pro...we've cried for Rigoletto, sympathized with Germont, and wanted to knife Scarpia ourselves; well, he can make us laugh, too....the old fool chasing the young girl has to be done just right, or he's not funny...Nucci is hilarious...and now.....
...a word about the REAL star; Ildebrando D'Archangelo as the quack Dr. Dulcamara carries the show. Perfect casting...flawlessly performed comedy. Nowhere is it written that the basso buffo has to be fat, and old. If Maestro D'Archangelo doesn't have quite the voice of the late, great, Salvatore Baccaloni, he still makes us believe, and makes us laugh. He has to move the plot line thru his interaction with the other characters, and he NEVER misses a beat...his dance scene with Anna is almost slapstick, but doesn't cross the line [nor does his sale of a bottle to the prompter].
This DVD is a treasure...great singing, and a rollicking good time. If you only go to the opera to be sad, forget it. But, if you like to laugh, don't miss this wonderful performance.
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