L'italiana in Algeri — Gioachino Rossini

Synopsis

Place: Algiers
Time: The past

Sinfonia

Atto I

The palace of the Bey of Algiers
Elvira accompanied by her slave Zulma regrets the loss of the love of her husband, the Turkish Bey Mustafà. Left alone with Haly (since the Italian 'h' is silent, this corresponds to the name Ali, more familiar in the English-speaking world), Captain of the Corsairs, Mustafà reveals his plan to marry Elvira off to Lindoro, his Italian slave. The Bey is bored with his submissive harem, desiring a new challenge to his virility: he wants an Italian girl, and Haly must find one! Lindoro enters alone and sings about Isabella, his true love (Languir per una bella). Mustafà comes in to explain Lindoro's impending marriage. The enthusiastic Bey describes the attractions of the match, while Lindoro struggles to refuse (Se inclinassi a prender moglie).
The seashore
A ship has been wrecked in a storm. Its passengers include Isabella, in search of Lindoro, and Taddeo, her travelling companion and would-be lover. Isabella enters with a sorrowful cavatina Cruda sorte! Amor tiranno!, however she is not afraid (Già so per pratica) and will master the situation. Haly and his men take them prisoner. She passes off Taddeo as her uncle. Haly is delighted to learn she is an Italian – exactly what the Bey wanted! Left to consider their fate, Isabella is irritated by Taddeo's jealousy of Lindoro (Ai capricci della sorte), but they resolve to join forces.
The palace
Back in the palace, Lindoro and Elvira do not wish to marry, but Mustafà offers Lindoro passage on a ship returning to Italy if he takes Elvira. Lindoro agrees, admitting a vague possibility of marrying her in Italy. Haly enters with news of the arrival of the Italian beauty. Mustafà is elated (Già d'insolito ardore nel petto agitare).
Surrounded by eunuchs (Viva, viva il flagel delle donne), Mustafà receives Isabella in a grand hall. He is enchanted, though she is rather amused by his appearance (Oh! Che muso, che figura!). At that moment, Lindoro, Elvira and Zulma arrive to say goodbye to Mustafà (Pria di dividerci da voi, Signore). Lindoro and Isabella are astonished to come face to face. Recovering herself, Isabella asks about Elvira, learning she is Mustafà's ex-wife, who is being sent away to Italy, where she is to marry Lindoro. Isabella demands that Mustafà allow Elvira (and therefore Lindoro) to remain in Algiers, telling Mustafà that he does not know how to love (Voi non sapete amar). Mustafà capitulates to Isabella's insistence. The act ends with an ensemble of confusion (Confusi e stupidi).

L'italiana in Algeri: Atto I, scena 1. No. 1. Introduzione “Serenate il mesto ciglio” / “Delle donne l'arroganza” (Coro, Elvira, Zulma, Haly, Mustafà)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto I, scena 1. Recitativo: “Ritiratevi tutti” / “Il mio schiavo” (Mustafà, Haly)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto I, scena 1. Recitativo: “Ritiratevi tutti” / “Il mio schiavo” (Mustafà, Haly)
scena 3. No. 2. Cavatina “Languir per una bella” … “Contenta quest’alma” (Lindoro)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto I, scena 3. Recitativo “Senti, italiano, vo' darti moglie” (Mustafà, Lindoro)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto I, scena 3. No. 3 Duetto: “Se inclinassi a prender moglie” (Lindoro, Mustafà)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto I, scena 4. No. 4 Coro e cavatina: “Quanta roba! Quanti schiavi!” (Coro, Haly)
scena 4. Cavatina “Cruda sorte! Amor tiranno!” … “Contenta quest’alma” (Isabella, Taddeo, Haly)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto I, scena 4. Recitativo: “Già ci siam” (Isabella, Taddeo, Haly)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto I, scena 5. Recitativo: “Ah! Isabella... siam giunti a mal partito” (Taddeo, Isabella)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto I, scena 5. No. 5. Duetto: “Ai capricci della sorte” (Isabella, Taddeo)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto I, scena 7. Recitativo: “Ascoltami, italiano” (Mustafà, Lindoro)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto I, scena 8. Recitativo: “Dunque degg'io lasciarvi?” (Elvira, Mustafà, Haly)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto I, scena 8. No. 6. Aria: “Già d'insolito ardore” (Mustafà)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto I, scena 9. Recitativo: “Vi dico il ver” (Zulma, Elvira, Lindoro)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto I, scena 10. No. 7. Finale I “Viva, viva il flagel delle donne” (Coro, Haly, Mustafà, Isabella, Taddeo)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto I, scena 11. “Oh! che muso, che figura! …” (Isabella, Mustafà)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto I, scena 12. “Vo' star con mia nipote” (Taddeo, Haly, Mustafà, Isabella)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto I, scena 13. “Pria di dividerci da voi, Signore, veniamo a esprimervi il nostro core …” / “Dite chi è quella femmina?” / “Nella testa ho un campanello“ (Elvira, Zulma, Lindoro, Taddeo, Haly, Mustafà, Isabella)

Atto II

In the palace
Elvira and Zulma note Isabella's skill with men. Mustafà reveals his strategy for seducing Isabella: he installs Lindoro as Isabella's servant and his informer, and Taddeo will also be induced to help. Elvira and Zulma must tell Isabella he is coming to take coffee with her.
Isabella and Lindoro are alone. He explains that he had no intention of marrying Elvira. They agree to escape together and Lindoro sings of his happiness (Ah come il cor di giubilo). Mustafà enters with a reluctant Taddeo, acclaimed by the Turks as "Lord Kaimakan" (Viva il grande Kaimakan). He dislikes interceding with Isabella for the Bey, but is frightened to refuse (Ho un gran peso sulla testa).
In her apartment
Isabella is dressing in Turkish style. Zulma and Elvira deliver Mustafà's message: he is coming for coffee. Isabella orders three cups. Elvira should wait in a side room. As Mustafà approaches, Isabella sings a romantic cavatina, Per lui che adoro – she will receive him. Mustafà tells Taddeo to leave when he sneezes (Ti presento di mia man). Isabella greets Mustafà warmly and he sneezes, but Taddeo ignores the signal. Isabella calls for coffee and then – to Mustafà's horror and amazement – invites Elvira to join them.
Elsewhere in the palace
Haly sings in praise of the women of Italy (Le femmine d'Italia). The Italians enter, and Taddeo reveals to a surprised Lindoro that he is not her uncle but her lover (he himself is unaware of the other man's true identity). Lindoro tells Mustafà that Isabella will declare him her adored pappataci ("sandfly," literally "silent eater": a man unable to resist the opposite sex). This, as Lindoro explains (Pappataci! Che mai sento!), is an Italian custom and a great honour, as the pappataci enjoy an idyllic life dedicated to eating, drinking and sleeping. Zulma and Haly speculate about Isabella's real intentions and the quantity of alcohol ordered for the ceremony.
Isabella's apartment
She addresses the Italian slaves who will be pappataci in the ceremony – she will lead them to freedom (Pensa alla patria). The ceremony begins (Dei pappataci s'avanza il coro); Mustafà is delighted with his new honour and changes into appropriate costume. Isabella explains his obligations. He must swear an oath of eating, drinking, and keeping silent, repeating the words after Taddeo. Following that his oath is tested, under provocation by Isabella and Lindoro.
A European ship docks near the palace, signaling the moment to escape. Taddeo finally realizes Lindoro’s true identity but chooses to go along with the plan regardless. Elvira, Zulma, and Haly discover that the Bey is still behaving like a confused "pappataci." Regaining his senses, Mustafà attempts to summon his troops, only to find them all drunk. The Italians make their escape, while Mustafà pleads for Elvira's forgiveness, vowing to avoid Italian women in the future.

L'italiana in Algeri: Atto II, scena 1. No. 8. Introduzione: “Uno stupido, uno stolto” (Coro, Elvira, Zulma, Haly)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto II, scena 2. Recitativo: “Amiche, andate a dire all'italiana” (Mustafà, Zulma, Elvira, Haly)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto II, scena 3. Recitativo: “Qual disdetta è la mia!” (Isabella, Lindoro)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto II, scena 3. No. 9. Cavatina: “Oh, come il cor di giubilo” (Lindoro)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto II, scena 4. Recitativo: “Ah! signor Mustafà - Che cosa è stato?” (Taddeo, Mustafà)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto II, scena 4. No. 10. Coro, recitativo ed aria: “Viva il grande Kaimakan” (Coro)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto II, scena 4. No. 10. Coro, recitativo ed aria: “Kaimakan! Io non capisco niente” (Taddeo, Mustafà)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto II, scena 4. No. 10. Coro, recitativo ed aria: “Ho un gran peso sulla testa” (Taddeo, Coro)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto II, scena 5. Recitativo: “Dunque a momenti” (Isabella, Lindoro, Elvira, Zulma)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto II, scena 5. No. 11. Cavatina: “Per lui che adoro” (Isabella, Mustafà, Taddeo, Lindoro)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto II, scena 6. Recitativo: “Io non resisto più” (Mustafà, Taddeo, Lindoro)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto II, scena 6. No. 12. Quintetto: “Ti presento di mia man” (Mustafà, Isabella, Taddeo, Lindoro, Elvira)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto II, scena 7. Recitativo: “Con tutta la sua boria questa volta il Bey perde la testa” (Haly)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto II, scena 7. No. 13. Aria: “Le femmine d'Italia son disinvolte e scaltre” (Haly)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto II, scena 8. Recitativo: “E tu speri di togliere Isabella” (Taddeo, Lindoro, Mustafà)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto II, scena 9. Recitativo: “Orsù: la tua nipote con chi crede d'aver che far?” (Mustafà, Lindoro, Taddeo)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto II, scena 9. No. 14. Terzetto: “Pappataci! Che mai sento!” / “Fra gli amori e le bellezze” (Mustafà, Lindoro, Taddeo)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto II, scena 11. Recitativo: “Tutti i nostri italiani ottener dal Bey spera Isabella” (Taddeo, Lindoro)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto II, scena 11. No. 15. Coro, recitativo e rondò: “Pronti abbiamo e ferri e mani” (Coro) / “Amici, in ogni evento” / “Pensa alla patria” (Isabella, Coro)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto II, scena 12. Recitativo: “Che bel core ha costei!” / “Kaimakan… Signor?” (Taddeo, Mustafà)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto II, scena 13. No. 16. Finale II: “Dei Pappataci s'avanza il coro” (Lindoro, Coro, Taddeo, Mustafà, Isabella)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto II, scena 14. No. 16. Finale II: “Non sei tu che il grado eletto” / “Di veder e non veder” / “Or si provi il candidato” (Isabella, Mustafà, Coro, Lindoro, Taddeo)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto II, scena 15. No. 16. Finale II: “Son l'aure seconde, son placide, l'onde” (Coro, Lindoro, Isabella, Taddeo, Mustafà)
L'italiana in Algeri: Atto II, scena 16. No. 16. Finale II: “Mio signore” / “Mio marito” (Zulma, Haly, Elvira, Mustafà, Isabella, Lindoro, Taddeo, Coro)

Synopsis from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Recommended recordings

Wiener Philharmoniker · Claudio Abbado YouTube Spotify (subscription)
I Solisti Veneti · Claudio Scimone YouTube Spotify (subscription)

Elsewhere

Wikipedia