ACT I, scene i: A small Italian village, early nineteenth century. Beautiful Adina, a wealthy landowner, sits reading against the lush backdrop of the Northern Italian countryside. Nearby, a group of peasants harvest. One young peasant, Nemorino, is in no mood to work; he lovingly admires Adina from a distance. How, he wonders, can he win her affections? Deep in thought, she doesn’t notice him. She’s too busy reading about the legendary lovers Tristan and Isolde, two rivals brought together by a magical potion. She captures the workers' attention and begins to tell them the story.

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Nemorino admires Adina from afar

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EMI Gaetano Donizetti L’Elisir D’Amore Rosanna Carteri, Angela Vercelli, Luigi Alva, Rolando Panerai, Giuseppe Taddei Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala, Milano Tullio Serafin 5 65658 2
NEMORINO:
(osservando Adina che legge) Quanto è bella, quanto è cara! Più la vedo e più mi piace… Ma in quel cor non son capace lieve affetto ad inspirer.	(watching Adina read) How beautiful she is! How dear! The more I see her, the more I love her. But in her heart I cannot inspire the slightest affection.