Italiano | English
Music by
Giacomo Rossini
Libretto by
Angelo Anelli
The first performance of the L’Italiana in Algeri was at the Teatro San Benedetto in Venice on May 22, 1813
The Characters
- Mustafà, Bey of Algiers
- Elvira, his wife
- Zulma, Elvira’s slave and confidante
- Haly, captain of the Algerian corsairs
- Lindoro, a young Italian, Mustafà’s favorite slave
- Isabella, an Italian lady
- Taddeo, her companion
- Eunuchs of the serraglio, Algerian corsairs, Italian slaves, “pappataci”, women of the harem, European slaves, sailors
Setting: Algiers.
Act One
In Algiers, at the palace of the bey Mustafà, his wife, Elvira, complains that her husband does not love her anymore. Mustafà bursts in, saying he will not let women get the better of him. Then he sends Elvira away. Mustafà says he is tired of his wife and will give her to Lindoro, a young Italian slave, to marry. He orders Haly, a captain in his service, to provide an Italian woman for himself, because all the women in his harem bore him. Lindoro longs for his own love, Isabella, whom he lost when pirates captured him. Mustafà tells him he can have Elvira.
Along the shore, a shipwreck is spotted in the distance, and Haly’s pirates exult in the catch. Isabella arrives on shore, lamenting the brutality of a fate that has interrupted her search for her fiancé, Lindoro. The pirates seize Taddeo, an admirer of Isabella’s, but he claims he is Isabella’s uncle and cannot leave her. When the Turks learn that both captives are Italian, they are glad of having found the new wife for their leader’s harem. Taddeo and Isabella decide they have better face their predicament together.
Zulma, Elvira’s slave, tries to reconcile Lindoro and her mistress to the fact that Mustafà has ordered them to marry. Mustafà promises Lindoro that if he will take Elvira he may return to Italy. Lindoro accepts, making it clear he might not marry Elvira until after they reach Italy. When Haly announces the capture of an Italian woman, Mustafà gloats in anticipation of conquest, then leaves to meet her.
In the main hall of his palace, Mustafà welcomes Isabella. Aside, she remarks that he looks ridiculous and feels certain that she will be able to deal with him; he, on the other hand, finds her delightful. Elvira and Lindoro come to say good-bye to the bey, and Lindoro and Isabella are stunned to recognize each other. To prevent Lindoro’s departure, Isabella insists that Mustafà cannot send away his wife, adding that Lindoro must stay as her own personal slave. Between the frustration of Mustafà’s plans and the happy but confused exhilaration of the lovers, everyone’s head reels.
Act Two
Elvira and members of the court are discussing how easily the Italian woman has intimidated Mustafà. When Mustafà enters, he declares he will visit Isabella in her room for coffee. She comes out of her room, upset because Lindoro apparently broke faith with her by agreeing to escape with Elvira. Lindoro appears and reassures her of his loyalty. After he leaves, Mustafà reappears, followed by attendants with the terrified Taddeo, who is to be honored as the bey’s Kaimakan, or personal bodyguard, in exchange for helping secure Isabella’s affections. Dressed in Turkish garb, he sees no choice but to accept the honor.
In her apartment, Isabella dressed in Turkish clothes prepares for Mustafà’s visit. She tells Elvira that the way to keep her husband is to be more assertive. To make Mustafà impatient, she keeps him waiting. Finally she presents herself to the bey, who introduces Taddeo as his Kaimakan. Mustafà sneezes, a signal for Taddeo to leave. But Taddeo stays, and Isabella invites Elvira to stay for coffee, to Mustafà’s irritation.
Elsewhere in the palace, Haly predicts that his master is no match for an Italian woman. Mustafà enters, still infuriated. Lindoro says Isabella cares very much for the bey and wants him to prove his worthiness by entering the Italian order of Pappataci. Mustafà asks what he has to do. Lindoro has a simple answer: eat, drink, and sleep all you like, and forget everything around you.
A feast of initiation for the bey is prepared, and Isabella exhorts her fellow Italians to be confident. After Mustafà is pronounced a Pappataci, food is brought in, and he is tested by Isabella and Lindoro, who pretend to make love while Taddeo reminds Mustafà to ignore them. A ship draws up in the background, and the lovers prepare to embark with other Italian captives. When Mustafà finally responds, the Italians have the situation under control and bid farewell. Mustafà takes Elvira back, and everyone sings the praises of the resourceful Italian woman.
Italiano | English