L’italiana in Algeri, Opera by G. Rossini
Gioachino Rossini's L’italiana in Algeri is known in English as The Italian Girl in Algiers, and it marked something of a high point in the young composer's career when he was particularly productive. Indeed, the opera is said to have taken the then-21-year-old maestro just a matter of weeks to score. This production of the enduring dramma giocoso at Teatro Costanzi in Rome features the orchestra and choir of the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, the famous theatre's other name. In a run of performances, L’italiana in Algeri will continue to delight audiences thanks to the sheer vivacity of the opera and memorable arias, such as Languir per una bella, which is arranged for a male protagonist's tenor voice in Act One.
L’italiana in Algeri debuted at Teatro San Benedetto in Venice on 22 May 1813. The two-act opera was written by Rossini to a libretto produced by Angelo Anelli. However, Anelli's work was based on an earlier operatic work of the same name by Luigi Mosca, a composer of many operas, and not entirely original. Despite this, Rossini breathed new life into his version of the story, largely because he blended his compositional style to include elements of both opera seria and opera buffa. After its first performance, Rossini altered some aspects of the score and continued to make changes for a further two years until the opera audiences around the world know and love to this day was finalised.
The opening scenes in L’italiana in Algeri focus on the relationship of a married couple, Mustafà and Elvira. At Mustafà's seaside palace, his wife complains that her husband no longer loves her. Mustafà, the Bey of Algiers, decides he wants to give his wife to Lindoro, a kidnapped Italian man at his court who loves Isabella, a girl he lost when he was taken captive. When Isabella subsequently turns up at court, she cleverly persuades the Bey not to banish his wife and Lindoro, as he had planned. What ensues in the second act is a lively story that focuses on Isabella's cunning. Can she outwit Mustafà and manipulate him to the extent that she can free Lindoro so the two can be together?
When L’italiana in Algeri was written, it represented a milestone in Rossini's development of opera, whereby he took the unusual step of entrusting the female lead to a mezzo-soprano. No doubt, the great Italian composer wanted to push the dramatic boundaries of this type of singer with several melodies that show off its richness. Audience-goers will experience all of the opera's novelty and charm at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma thanks to this superb production.