Rossini's The Italian Girl In Agiers

May 9, 2009

We entered the Benedum Theater ready for a romp through Rossini's North Africa. We were dazzled by the opera, The Italian Girl in Algiers. Act one opens with an airplane flying across the stage area where a large book lies in the sands. The book opens and inside the palace of bey Mustafa pops out. In this act we meet Elvira who has lost favor with her husband, Mustafa and is being sent away with a servant, Lindoro. Mustafa wants a nice Italian woman and orders his captain to get him one. Isabella arrives on the scene lamenting the cruelty of fate that has interrupted her quest for her lost fiance, Lindoro. The captain and his guard capture Isabella and her aging admirer, Taddeo and bring them to the palace. The act ends with a wonderful scene where Mustafa meets Isabella who with lots of ceremony demonstrates her certainty of dealing with men and recognizes that Lindoro is about to leave with Elvira. Everyones head reels in the confusion and excitment.

Act two opens with a terrified Taddeo becoming the bey's personal bodyguard in exchange for securing Isabella's love for Mestafa. Isabella tells Elvira the way to keep her husband is to be more assertive. There is a funny scene where the bey gives a cue that Taddeo ignores and ends with Elvira staying at a time Mustafa thought was going to be just he and Isabella. All the while the captain and the guards predict that the bey is no match for Italian women. Meanwhile Taddeo is dealing with Mustafa and explains that Isabella wants him to enter in the Italian order of Pappataci. Then the fun begins. Mustafa agrees to condition: eat, drink and sleep all you like paying no attention to anything else. The lovers, Isabella and Lindoro, prepare to embark. Mustafa keeps to his vow to pay no attention, and Taddeo realizes he too is being tricked. In the end Mustafa takes Elvira ack and everyone sings praises of the resourceful Italian woman.

We were thrilled with the experience and can't wait to attend our next opera.

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