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Io son ricco, e tu sei bella; Io ducati, e vezzi hai tu |
There is a scene for Nemorino, Giannetta, and the peasants, in which Nemorino praises the elixir, "Dell'elisir mirabile" (Of this most potent elixir). Later comes another duet for Adina and Dulcamara, "Quanto amore!" (What affection!) in which Adina expresses her realization of the death of Nemorino's affection for her.
"The score of 'Elisire d'Amore,'" says the Dictionnaire des Opéras, "is one of the most pleasing that the Bergamo composer has written in the comic vein. It abounds in charming motifs and graceful melodies. In the first act the duet for tenor and bass between the young villager and Dr. Dulcamara is a little masterpiece of animation, the accompaniment of which is as interesting as the vocal parts. The most striking passages of the second act are the chorus, 'Cantiamo, facciam brindisi'; the barcarole for two voices, 'Io son ricco, e tu sei bella'; the quartet, 'Dell'elisir mirabile'; the duet between Adina and Dulcamara, 'Quanto amore'; and finally the lovely and smoothly-flowing romance of Nemorino, 'Una furtiva lagrima,' which is one of the most remarkable inspirations of Donizetti."
LUCREZIA BORGIA
Opera, in a prologue and two acts, by Donizetti; words by Felice Romani, after Victor Hugo. Produced, La Scala, Milan, 1834; Théâtre des Italiens, Paris, 1840; London, 1839; in English, 1843; New York, Astor Place Opera House, 1847; with Grisi, September 5, 1854; with Tietjens and Brignoli, 1876; Academy of Music, October 30, 1882; Metropolitan Opera House, with Caruso, 1902.
Characters
| Alfonso d'Este, Duke of Ferrara | Baritone | |||
| Lucrezia Borgia | Soprano | |||
| Maffio Orsini | Contralto | |||
| Gennaro | } | Young noblemen in the service of the Venetian Republic | { | Tenor |
| Liverotto | } | { | Tenor | |
| Vitellozzo | } | { | Bass | |
| Gazello | Bass | |||
| Rustighello, in the service of Don Alfonso | Tenor | |||
| Gubetta | } | in the service of Lucrezia | { | Bass |
| Astolfo | } | { | Tenor | |
Gentlemen-at-arms, officers, and nobles of the Venetian Republic; same, attached to court of Alfonso; ladies-in-waiting, Capuchin monks, etc.
Time—Early sixteenth century.
Place—Venice and Ferrara.