The comic opera in two acts opens Feb. 28 at Drayton Hall

A magic elixir or a bottle of cheap wine? It doesn’t matter if it works. Nemorino, a lovesick peasant, is desperately in love and wants to marry the wealthy Adina, spending his last coins on the quack Dr. Dulcamara's love potion.

The delightful romantic comedy overflows with melody and famous arias. Donizetti uses an array of musical genres in his score to captivate listeners. In the opening scene, he provides opportunities for the three main protagonists of the opera to express their different emotional states in their individual cavatinas. Felice Romani’s libretto features a juxtaposition between the characters’ contrasting registers of the dialogues on love. Sung in Italian, “L’elisir d’amore” features three big duets between the tenor and soprano.

Gaetano Donizetti (1797–1848), a towering figure in Italian opera, wrote the score for  “L'elisir d'amore” (The Elixir of Love) in a six-week feverish haste, and it premiered at the Teatro della Cannobiana in Milan on May 12, 1832. It was the most often performed opera in Italy between 1838 and 1848, and it has remained continually in the international opera repertory. Today it is one of the most frequently performed of all Donizetti's operas.  

Ellen Douglas Schlaefer directs Opera at USC. Neil Casey conducts the Opera Orchestra. Cast: Johnnie Felder (Nemorino) tenor, Maria Beery (Adina) soprano, John Siarris (Belcore) baritone, Daniel Cole (Dr. Dulcamara), Anna Young (Gianetta) soprano.

Performances take place at Drayton Hall, USC Columbia Campus:

Friday, February 28, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 1, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 2, 3:00 p.m.

Tickets on sale now


Adults: $25; seniors / USC faculty & staff / military $20; students with ID: $7 

Purchase tickets

• Koger Box Office: corner of Greene and Park Streets, Columbia, SC 29201
  Monday–Friday from 9 a.m.–5 p.m
• By phone: (803) 251-2222
  Monday–Friday from 9 a.m.–5 p.m
• Online: www.capitoltickets.com. 
Please note that added fees apply.
• At the venue: one hour prior to the 
performance.