Hear the story behind the opera. Join us 45 minutes before this performance when a member of Opera Australia's artistic team will share their insights into the opera. Held in the Northern Foyer of the Joan Sutherland Theatre, this informal and informative talk will help you to get the most out of your opera experience.
Hear the story behind the opera. Join us 45 minutes before this performance when a member of Opera Australia's artistic team will share their insights into the opera. Held in the Northern Foyer of the Joan Sutherland Theatre, this informal and informative talk will help you to get the most out of your opera experience.
Hear the story behind the opera. Join us 45 minutes before this performance when a member of Opera Australia's artistic team will share their insights into the opera. Held in the Northern Foyer of the Joan Sutherland Theatre, this informal and informative talk will help you to get the most out of your opera experience.
From Italy's greatest master of laughs comes a riotous comedy with a knockout score.
It skips and sparkles from the gruffest of bass notes to the impossibly high reaches of Stacey Alleaume's coloratura.
Andrea Molino leads a cracking team of comic talents, including Paolo Bordogna in his side-splitting performance as the Turk. Simon Phillips' playful production wrings every last laugh from Rossini's ridiculous romp.
Gabriela Tylesova's gelato-coloured costumes and clever, cartoonish sets are stars in their own right: a candied cherry on top of this rather outrageous ice-cream sundae.
“It's just about as much fun as you can have in an opera house,” said Phillips, and the critics agreed.
She’s flirtatious, audacious and unspeakably bored.
He’s geriatric, sycophantic and easily ignored.
Add a handsome prince,
A gypsy minx,
And a poet in need of a plot.
Put this classic Rossini
In vintage bikinis
and a rollicking good time we’ve got!
Video
Watch the trailer for The Turk in Italy
| Conductor | Andrea Molino |
| Director | Simon Phillips |
| Revival Director | Andy Morton |
| Set & Costume Designer | Gabriela Tylesova |
| Lighting Designer | Nick Schlieper |
| Dance Coordinator | Sally Hare |
| Fiorilla | Stacey Alleaume |
| Narciso | N.N. |
| Geronio | Warwick Fyfe |
| Selim | Paolo Bordogna |
| Prosdocimo | Samuel Dundas |
| Zaida | Anna Dowsley |
| Albazar | Graeme Macfarlane (except 23 & 25 Aug) |
| Nicholas Jones (23 & 25 Aug) |
Running time: approximately 2 hours & 55 minutes, including one interval.
Sung in Italian with English surtitles.
A poet with writer’s block is searching for inspiration as he writes his story. The flirtations and furies of his little seaside Italian town are boring him, but things heat up when a handsome Turkish prince arrives in town.
Suddenly, Fiorilla finds herself torn between her boring old husband Geronio, her jealous young lover Narciso and the mysterious, dashing young Turk.
The Turkish Selim has problems of his own: how can he choose between the vivacious Fiorilla and the sad-eyed gypsy girl he once loved?
Perhaps a costume ball will help sort things out? (Because that always works!)
Suddenly, the poet’s story is a romantic comedy with all the ingredients for success: love, jealousy and mistaken identities.
Not afraid of spoilers? Read the full synopsis.
The action takes place in and around Naples in the 18th century.
Act 1
By the sea shore near Naples
The poet Prosdocimo is searching for a plot for a drama buffo. He meets a band of gypsies, including the beautiful but unhappy Zaida and her confidant, Albazar. Perhaps the gypsies can provide some ideas? Prosdocimo's friend, the obstinate and sometimes foolish Geronio, is looking for a fortune teller to advise him on his marital problems, but the gypsies tease him. Zaida tells Prosdocimo that she is from a Turkish harem. She and her master, Prince Selim, were in love, but jealous rivals accused her of infidelity and she had to flee for her life, accompanied by Albazar. Nevertheless she still loves only one man and that man is Selim. Prosdocimo knows that a Turkish prince will shortly be arriving in Italy. Perhaps he can help? Geronio's capricious young wife Fiorilla enters, singing of the joys of free and unfettered love. A Turkish ship arrives and the prince disembarks. It is Selim himself. Fiorilla is immediately attracted to the handsome Turk, and a romance rapidly develops. Narciso appears in her pursuit. He is an ineffectual admirer of Fiorilla, posing as a friend of her husband. Geronio follows, horrified to learn that Fiorilla is taking the Turk home to drink his coffee!
Geronio's house
Fiorilla and Selim are flirting. Geronio enters timidly and Selim is initially impressed by his unexpected meekness, however Narciso noisily scolds Geronio. The domestic menage irritates Selim and he leaves after quietly arranging to meet Fiorilla again by his ship. Geronio tells Fiorilla he will not allow any more Turks — or Italians — in his house. She sweetly undermines his complaints, and then when he softens, threatens to punish him by enjoying herself even more wildly.
The sea shore at night
Selim is waiting for Fiorilla. Instead he meets Zaida. The former lovers are shocked and delighted, and declare once more their mutual love. Narciso reappears, followed by Fiorilla in disguise, with Geronio in pursuit. Selim confuses the veiled Fiorilla with Zaida and the two women come suddenly face to face. Fiorilla accuses Selim of betrayal. Zaida confronts Fiorilla. Geronio tells his wife to go home. There is a stormy finale.
Act 2
At an inn
Selim approaches Geronio amicably, offering to buy Fiorilla. That way Geronio can be rid of his problems and also make some money. Geronio refuses. Selim vows to steal her instead. After they leave, Fiorilla and a group of her friends appear, followed by Zaida. Fiorilla has set up a meeting between them and Selim, so that the Turk will be forced to decide between the two women. In the event he is indecisive, not wishing to lose either of them. Zaida leaves in disgust. Selim and Fiorilla quarrel but are eventually reconciled. As the poet tells Geronio, there is going to be a party. Fiorilla will be there to meet Selim, who will be masked. Geronio should also go — disguised as a Turk! Narciso overhears this, and decides to take advantage of the situation to take Fiorilla himself, in revenge for her former indifference. Geronio laments his destiny, that he should have such a terrible, crazy wife. Albazar passes by holding a costume — for Zaida!
A ballroom with masqueraders and dancers
Fiorilla mistakes Narciso for Selim and Narciso leads her away. Meanwhile Selim enters with Zaida, under the impression that she is Fiorilla. Geronio is in utter despair at finding two couples and two Fiorillas! Narciso and Selim both entreat their partners to leave with them. Confused and angry, Geronio attempts to stop both couples, but they eventually escape.
Back at the inn
Prosdocimo meets Geronio. They now know that Selim was with Zaida and guess that Fiorilla was with Narciso. Albazar confirms that Selim will definitely stay with Zaida. Prosdocimo advises Geronio to have his revenge on Fiorilla by pretending to divorce her and threatening to send her back to her family.
Having discovered Narciso's deception, Fiorilla tries to find Selim, but he has already left with Zaida. She returns home only to find the divorce letter, and her belongings being removed from the house. She is devastated by shame, and promptly deserted by her friends.
The beach
Selim and Zaida are about to set sail for Turkey, while Fiorilla is looking for a boat to take her back to her home town. Geronio finds and forgives her. They are affectionately reconciled. Both couples are now reunited and Prosdocimo is delighted with his happy ending.