Gaetano Donizetti - L'elisir d'amore (Alberico Vitalini)

Information

Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

• L'elisir d'amore, A. 36 (Highlights)

Amelia Benvenuti, soprano

Manlio Rocchi, tenor

Walter Monachesi, baritone

Nestore Catalani, bass

Rome Lyric Opera Chorus & Orchestra

Alberico Vitalini, conductor

Date: 1973 / 2026

Label: Vox

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L'elisir d'amore (The Elixir of Love) is a celebrated two-act comic opera composed by Gaetano Donizetti with a libretto by Felice Romani. Debuting at Milan's Teatro della Canobbiana on May 12, 1832, the piece was rapidly composed in just six weeks. Donizetti introduced key musical additions—including iconic duets and the famed aria "Una furtiva lagrima"—to accentuate its romantic theme centered on the triumph of sincerity. Celebrated for its musical richness, it became Italy's most frequently staged opera from 1838 to 1848 and continues to hold a permanent, prominent position in the global opera repertoire today.

Alberico Vitalini (1921–2006) was a distinguished Italian conductor and composer who specialized in sacred choral music. After studying at Rome's Santa Cecilia Conservatory—where he earned diplomas in violin, viola, composition, and conducting between 1940 and 1945—he established a prominent career in musical leadership. In 1950, Vitalini was appointed director of musical programs for Vatican Radio, a role that underscored his devotion to religious compositions. His artistic contributions were further recognized in 1973 with his induction into the Accademia Internazionale de Propaganda Culturale. Vitalini’s notable works include sacred and orchestral compositions such as Assisi (1949), Magnificat (1954), and liturgical songs for the Italian language.

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