L’elisir d’amore (Donizetti)
VAI DVD 4492 $39.95

In L’elisir d’amore, Gaetano Donizetti and his librettist Felice Romani created some of the most human and ingratiating characters in all of opera. This 1959 Tokyo production features the legendary singers Ferruccio Tagliavini and Alda Noni in their only complete live performances captured on film. Sung and acted with a refreshing spontaneity, humor, and lightness of touch, the performance is a rare and precious memento of a bygone era when opera was still part of popular Italian culture. Embedded Japanese subtitles remain on screen throughout. Optional subtitles in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. 107 minutes, Black & White, mono, 4:3, All regions.

Note: there is a gap in the video image for the first nine minutes of Dulcamara's entrance scene which has been filled in with still images from the production; the audio continues without interruption.

L’ELISIR D’AMORE
Opera in Two Acts
Music by Gaetano Donizetti
Libretto by Felice Romani, after
Eugène Scribe's libretto for Auber’s Le philtre

Nemorino: Ferruccio Tagliavini
Adina: Alda Noni
Belcore: Arturo La Porta
Dulcamara: Paolo Montarsolo
Giannetta: Santa Chissari

The NHK Symphony Orchestra
Tokyo Broadcasting Chorus
Osaka Broadcasting Chorus
Nikikai Chorus Group
Fujiwara Opera Chorus
Japan Ballet Association

Alberto Erede, conductor
Chorus Master: Tadashi Mori

Stage Director: Bruno Nofri
Set Design: Mario Pompei
Choreography: Hiroshi Shimada

February 8, 1959
Tokyo Takarazuka Hall

© 1959 NHK (Nippon Hoso Kyokai), Japan
Packaging, Design, and DVD Authoring © 2009 Video Artists International, Inc.

Subtitle translations by Cesar Dillon, Shany Guillotte, Lothar Nickel, Fiorella Sampirisi

CHAPTER SELECTION

Act I
1. Preludio; Bel conforto al mietitore (Giannetta, Coro)
2. Quanto è bella, quanto è cara! (Nemorino, Giannetta, Coro)
3. Benedette queste carte!... Della crudele Isotta (Adina, Nemorino, Coro)
4. Come Paride vezzoso! (Belcore, Adina, Giannetta, Nemorino, Coro)
5. Più tempo, oh Dio!, non perdere (Belcore, Adina, Nemorino, Coro)
6. Una parola, o Adina (Nemorino, Adina)
*7. Che vuol dire codesta sonata? (Coro)
*8. Udite, udite, o rustici (Dulcamara, Coro, Nemorino)
9. Dottore, perdonate… Obbligato, obbligato (Nemorino, Dulcamara)
10. Caro elisir ! sei mio! (Nemorino, Adina)
11. Tran, tran, in guerra ed in amore (Belcore, Adina, Nemorino)
12. Signor sargente! (Giannetta, Belcore, Nemorino, Adina, Coro)
13. Adina, credimi te ne scongiuro (Nemorino, Belcore, Adina, Giannetta, Coro)

Act II
14. Cantiamo, facciam brindisi (Belcore, Adina, Dulcamara, Coro)
15. La Nina Gondoliera, e il senator Tredenti (Dulcamara, Adina, Belcore, Coro)
16. Le feste nuziali (Dulcamara, Nemorino, Belcore)
17. Venti scudi (Nemorino, Belcore)
18. Sarà possibile? (Giannetta, Coro)
19. Dell’elisir mirabile (Nemorino, Giannetta, Coro)
20. Come sen va contento… Quanto amore (Adina, Dulcamara)
21. Una furtiva lacrima (Nemorino)
22. Eccola!... Prendi; per me sei libero (Nemorino, Adina)
23. Alto! Fronte!... Ei corregge ogni difetto (Belcore, Adina, Dulcamara, Nemorino, Coro)
24. Closing Credits

*the video image is missing for chapters 7 & 8