L'Elisir d'amore (Opera)

Grand opera arrives in Moretta

This event marks a milestone in the cultural life of this town in the Cuneo plains: for the first time in its history, the Municipality of Moretta, in the Province of Cuneo, is hosting a full-scale opera performance. The stage will feature «L'Elisir d'amore», the famous two-act comic melodrama by Gaetano Donizetti with a libretto by Felice Romani, one of the most beloved and popular works in the 19th-century Italian repertoire.

A comic melodrama between humor and romance

The plot, set in a country village, tells the story of the shy young Nemorino's love for the capricious Adina and the arrival of the charlatan Dulcamara with his miraculous «elixir». Through misunderstandings, jealousy, and the immortal aria «Una furtiva lagrima», Donizetti created a musical comedy that has captivated audiences of all ages for nearly two centuries. In Moretta, the show is presented in its complete version, with meticulously crafted period sets.

Over 70 live performers

The production involves over seventy performers, including soloists, choir members, and an orchestra—an impressive ensemble for an event hosted in a multi-purpose center rather than a traditional theater. The stage will feature established solo voices, the Live Aps Choir, and the Easy Opera Ensemble of the G.B. Fergusio Lyric Choir, accompanied by a live orchestra. To help the audience follow along, dialogue and lyrics will be projected on a screen, replacing the traditional libretto once distributed in theaters.

The creative team

The event is a collaboration between the Moretta-based cultural association La Ginestra and the Live Aps association from Savigliano, an organization specialized in bringing opera out of large theaters and closer to audiences in smaller Piedmontese towns. The production is directed by Daniela Quaglia, with musical direction by Maestro Paolo Flamingo, and choreography by Noemi and Rachele Costella.

An event for the whole community

Admission to the show is free, with the option to leave a donation to support the associations—a choice intended to make grand opera accessible to everyone, whether they are regular theater-goers or newcomers. Hosted in the Salone della Cascina San Giovanni in Moretta, the evening is a precious opportunity to discover a title usually heard only in major Italian theaters, right in your own backyard.