Rossini: L’italiana in Algeri *****
Salzburg Festival, 8th August 2018
A muezzin calls the faithful to prayer. Elvira fails to arouse Mustafà’s desires while an animated ballet about an amorous camel cavorts in the picture frame above their marital bed. When her belly-dancing flops, the dejected Elvira stuffs her face with Turkish delight. This is only the overture, but it’s already clear that Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier are going to have a lot of fun with L’italiana in Algeri. And why not? Rossini’s operatic farce is gloriously silly. Packed with zinging tunes, it’s a gift to the talented cast at the Salzburg Festival, headed by the great Cecilia Bartoli.
José Coca Loza (Haly), Cecilia Bartoli (Isabella) and Alessandro Corbelli (Taddeo)
© Monika Rittershaus
Read the full review on Bachtrack.