Laurent Pelly places this romantic comedy in the 50s Italy, Vespa included.

 

A simple but effective plot (a shy and naive young peasant buys a charlatan a love potion, actually a simple bottle of wine, to conquer the girl he is in love with; the beauty will finally realize that he loves the young man without the help of the elixir), a joyous musical language with bright and particularly inspired melodies (including the famous "Una furtiva lagrima"), made this opera composed in 15 days by Donizetti a true masterpiece.

Transposing the action into Italy in the 1950s, director Laurent Pelly achieves a true gem, finely chiseled and highly poetic.