Donizetti's “Love Potion” is by far the most romantic of 19^th century Italian operas: a shy boy with a tendency to rave falls in love - initially unhappy - with a well-off, somewhat capricious beauty. The old swindler Dulcamara, a quack, miracle doctor and street vendor, distills the eponymous magic potion, which soon makes emotions and melodies sparkle. The vain philanderer Belcore and the singing crowd complete the staff for a turbulent day in the flair of the southern sun. The music style is called belcanto, "beautiful song", for a reason. Donizetti's musical showpieces are of high virtuosity and lavish splendor: heart-melting melodies, fast-paced arias, a rush for the senses full of Italian feelings – living la dolce vita with a dash of tragedy.

The production by Tobias Ribitzki exaggerates old theatre traditions as a trashy medieval show in a cardboard backdrop, and spans operatic clichés between adoration from the audience and star behavior on the ramp in a wide arc across the entire orchestra pit. The soloists of the opera ensemble, supplemented by a playful quintet representing the large choir crowd, turn all corona troubles into playful virtues with a barrel of laughs.

Gaetono Donizetti
Libretto by Myfanwy Piper, after a story by Henry James

Mercedes Arcuri, Adina
Marco Lee / Long Long, Nemorino
James Newby / Germán Overy, Belcore
Pavel Chervinsky / Daniel Miroslaw, Dulcamara
Clara Nadeshdin, Gianetta

Niedersächsisches Staatsorchester Hannover
Chor der Staatsoper Hannover
James Hendry / Giulio Cilona, musical directors
Tobias Ribitzky, stage director

Felix Schrödinger, scenic director of the resumption
Florian Parbs, set design
Rebekka Zimlich, costume design
Holger Klede, lighting design
Fabian Posca, choreography
Steffi Mieszkowski, dramaturge
Lorenzo Da Rio, chorus master