L'amore medico (Doctor Cupid, also known as The Love Doctor) is an opera in two acts by composer Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari. Based on Molière's comedy L'Amour médecin, the work uses an Italian language libretto by Enrico Golisciani. It premiered in a German version by Richard Batka on 4 December 1913 at the Hoftheater in Dresden under the title Der Liebhaber als Arzt.
The opera's United States premiere took place on 25 March 1914 at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, conducted by Arturo Toscanini. It was first performed in Italy on 6 March 1929 at the Teatro Regio (Turin), conducted by Franco Capuana.
Roles +RoleVoice typePremiere cast4 December 1913USA premiere cast, 25 March 1914Conductor: Arturo ToscaniniLucinda, Arnolfo's daughter soprano Lucrezia BoriClitandro, Lucinda's admirer tenor Italo CristalliLisetta, a servant soprano Bella AltenArnolfo baritone Antonio Pini-CorsiTomes, a doctor bass Léon RothierDesfonandres, a doctor bass Andrés de SegurolaMacroton, a doctor baritone Robert LeonhardtBahis, a doctor tenor Angelo BadàNotary bass Paolo Ananian
Recordings
Doctor Cupid (L'amore medico): Wolf-Ferrari's Comic Opera Based on a Comedy by Molière, Punch Opera Music conducted by Rex Wilder Directed by Nelson Sykes Pianists: Robert Boberg and Barbara Ylvisaker Sung in English by: Anita Beltram (Lucinda), John Miller (Clitandro), Martha Moore Sykes (Lisetta), Milton Gorman (Papa), Richard Roussin (Doctor Tomes); Bettie Harris Fox (Astrologer); Rex Coston (Magician); Margaret Fittz (Gypsy) Recording date: 1952 Label: Abbey Records, LP No. 5 Wolf-Ferrari: Orchestral Works, BBC Philharmonic Conductor: Gianandrea Noseda Recording date: 2009 Label: Chandos, 10511 (CD)
References
Further reading Waterhouse, John C. G. (1992), "Amore medico, L" in The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, ed. Stanley Sadie (London)
External links
Work details, Corago, University of Bologna