The therapeutic effects of a good bottle of wine aer well known. But can it work as a love potion? In Donizetti's hilarious and touching L'elisir d'amore, the wily Doctor Dulcamara tricks young Nemorino into believing that a bottle of cheap Bordeaux will help him to capture the heart of the beautiful and haughty Adina. Will it help Nemorino to lure Adina away from the swaggering Sergeant Belcore? Donizetti's delightful comic gem includes wonderful ensembles and choruses, coloratura fireworks for Adina and a wealth of glorious tunes, including the soulful 'Una furtiva lagrima'.

Laurent Pelly's witty production sets the action in a modern Italian village, complete with Vespas, a lorry full of potions and a performing dog. Aleksandra Kurzak returns as Adina, the capricious heroine who proves to have a heart of gold, with Roberto Alagna, and for the final performanceStefan Pop, as her ardent suitor Nemorino. Fabio Capitanucci cuts a dash as Sergeant Belcore, while Ambrogio Maestri brings all his comic talents to the role of Dulcamara. With Bruno Campanella conducting, this promises to be a revival of sunny, southern enjoyment.