In the opera "L'Elisir d'amore" the shy, young farmer Nemorino loves the pretty and rich Adina, who doesn't care for him at first. Nemorino believes in the effect of the love potion sold to him by the quack Dulcamara and sings the romance: "Una furtiva lagrima negl'occhi suoi spunto...". ("Secretly a tear stole from her eye...").

Also in Luigi di Ghisallos version for wind orchestra this aria has lost nothing of the warmth of bel canto!