Rossini

Il turco in Italia

12 - 30 October

Rossini’s laugh-out-loud comedy bubbles with energy, clever wit and Italian style.

When the poet Prosdocimo finds himself wrestling with writer’s block, he vows to take inspiration from the people around him. From a flirtatious young wife (and her lover) to a charismatic Turk and his former fiancée, the stage is set for a comic opera that sparkles with wit and sophisticated silliness.

A revival of the 2021 Festival production. Sung in Italian with English supertitles.


Creative team

Conductor
Olivia Clarke

Director
Mariame Clément

Revival Director
Ian Rutherford

Designer
Julia Hansen

Lighting Designer
Bernd Purkrabek

Text by
Lucy Wadham

Video Design
David Fricker

Glyndebourne Sinfonia
Leader Richard Milone

The Glyndebourne Chorus
Chorus Director Aidan Oliver

Assistant Conductor
Avishka Edirisinghe

Music Preparation
David Doidge
Matthew Fletcher
Kate Golla

Language Coaches
Caterina Galiotto
Alessandra Testai

Assistant Director
Talia Stern

Cast includes

Zaida
Grace Durham

Albazar
Rhys Batt

Prosdocimo
Ross Ramgobin

Don Geronio
Fabio Capitanucci

Donna Fiorilla
Inna Demenkova

Selim
Michael Mofidian

Don Narciso
Agustín Gómez

Girlfriend
Anna-Marie Sullivan

The music of Il turco in Italia in these performances is the critical edition by Margaret Bent © Casa Ricordi, Milano (Universal Music Publishing Group). By arrangement with G. Ricordi & Co. (London) Ltd.


Photo gallery

Photos by Tristram Kenton

Synopsis

Act I

In the city of Naples, author Prosdocimo has writer’s block. He’s struggling to write a comedy, and just can’t seem to find the right material. But when he stumbles on a gypsy camp down by the harbour, that soon changes. What better way to start his play than with a colourful Gypsy scene? At that moment his old friend Geronio appears, keen to find a fortune teller to read his palm. But clever gypsy Zaida quickly sees through the foolish old man and mocks him as a cuckold.

Intrigued by Zaida, Prosdocimo discovers that she was forced to flee from Prince Selim’s harem after a jealous rival accused her of infidelity. Still in love with the Prince, she now lives unhappily in hiding, longing to be reunited with him. Prosdocimo promises to help her.

Already bored by married life, Geronio’s flirtatious young wife Fiorilla sings of the delights of ever-changing lovers. Right on cue, a wealthy Turk disembarks in the harbour. He makes a beeline for pretty Fiorilla, who in turn feels an instant attraction to the handsome stranger. She invites him home for coffee, much to the horror of both her husband and her lover Narciso. Discovering that the Turk is none other than Zaida’s Prince Selim, Prosdocimo realises that he has unwittingly assembled the perfect cast for his comedy.

Fired up with righteous jealousy, Geronio interrupts his wife’s assignation. But she persuades him to be courteous, prompting Selim to marvel at the tolerant ways of Italian husbands. He immediately arranges another assignation with Fiorilla. A furious Geronio tries to chastise his wife, who neatly turns the tables, forcing him to beg for her forgiveness.

Planning to elope together, Fiorilla and Selim head to see one another. But when Selim encounters Zaida and recognises his former lover, old passions are rekindled and new jealousies set aflame. Prosdocimo couldn’t be more delighted with the cat-fight that ensues – a perfect finale!

Synopsis

Act II

Determined to have Fiorilla, Selim offers to buy her from her husband, but when a horrified Geronio refuses the two nearly come to blows. Meanwhile Fiorilla has decided that it is time for Selim to choose between herself and Zaida. Despite the Turk’s vacillations she pushes forward with their plans, hoping that a masked ball will give them a good opportunity to slip away once and for all.

The writer warns Geronio of the lovers’ scheme, and advises that he and Zaida should wear the same costumes as Selim and Fiorilla in order to confound them. But things don’t go quite to plan, especially as Narciso also shows up in the same costume as Selim. The four young lovers all successfully make their exits (if not necessarily with the correct partners) and Geronio is left alone and furious.

Brought together in the confusion of the ball, Selim and Zaida have reunited and plan to return to Turkey together. While they make their preparations, Geronio and Fiorilla must also negotiate a tricky reconciliation. When her husband locks the doors against her, appearing to cast her off, Fiorilla finally realises the error of her ways. Geronio forgives her, and both couples celebrate their future lives together. Prosdocimo is overjoyed – he has his happy ending.


Performance timings

Dates: 12, 17, 19, 25, 27 & 30 October

Grounds open: 2.00pm
Opera starts: 4.00pm
Interval (30 mins): 5.30pm
Opera resumes: 6.00pm
Opera ends: 7.05pm

For recommended trains and coach timings visit our how to get here page.


With special thanks to Dunard Fund for their support of the Autumn season

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