L'italiana in Algeri

Gioachino Rossini

In Italian with German and English surtitles

Dramma giocoso per musica in two acts · libretto by Angelo Anelli

Synopsis

Clear the stage for a circus of male vanities and female ingenuity: Right after the overture, the choir states that women are born solely to serve men – but then, things turn out quite differently. Mustafà is tired of his wife Elvira and plans to marry her off to Lindoro. Enter the Italian girl Isabella, who charms Mustafà and takes control of the situation without anybody noticing.

Rossini’s musical finesse in this sassy comedy about the magic of seduction made him the undisputed king of opera buffa and bel canto – an “organised and complete madness” (Stendhal). Astonished by the enthusiastic audience reaction to his cheeky romantic burlesque at its premiere at the Teatro San Benedetto, the composer concluded, „I thought the Venetians would think I was crazy after hearing my opera; now it turns out they are even crazier than I am!”

Alexandra Liedtke, Principal Stage Director for Opera, sets the exuberant plot in the world of the circus.

“L’italiana in Algeri” is still one of the most successful and most popular works by Gioachino Rossini (1792–1868), who is said to have written it in less than a month. This opera made Rossini instantly famous throughout Italy and paved the way for a surge in his music’s popularity in other European countries as well – a fast-paced comedy beloved by opera audiences to this day.

Carlo Benedetto Cimento was born in Bologna and has been Principal Conductor at the Salzburg State Theatre since the 2023/2024 season. He was nominated for the Austrian Music Theatre Award for his conducting of Haydn’s “L’isola disabitata” at the Teatro Barocco festival, came out first in the talent contest Ö1 Talentbörse and won the 2019 Max Liebhaber Award at the Heidenheim Opera Festival.