Il turco in Italia
- Selim, a Turkish prince ( bass)
- Donna Fiorilla, wife of Don Geronio (soprano )
- Don Geronio ( bass-baritone )
- Don Narciso, Fiorilla lover (Tenor)
- Prosdocimo, a poet (baritone )
- Zaida, a gypsy (soprano )
- Albazar, Zaida companion (Tenor)
Il turco in Italia ( The Turk in Italy) is a comic opera ( opera buffa ) in two acts by Gioachino Rossini from the year 1814. The libretto by Felice Romani, a processing of the same template of Caterino Mazzolà that in 1788 by Franz Seydelmann was set to music for the opera in Dresden. Romani took over for his version of standard personnel constellations and the basic structure of the plot, but focused more on the people Fiorilla and Selim and increased the number of the ensemble.
The premiere took place in Milan at the Teatro alla Scala di Milano on August 14, 1814.
Action
The action takes place in and around Naples
The poet Prosdocimo has commissioned to write the libretto for a comic opera, but he can think of no action. Finally he comes up with the idea to write a piece about his friend Don Geronio his young wife Fiorilla has an affair with Don Narciso. But a group of Gypsies inspired him instead to a Gypsy Opera.
Also Geronio visited the gypsy camp to can prophesy the future. However, the lovely Zaida and her friends mock him only. Prosdocimo observed the scene and is interested in Zaida. She tells him that she was once the mistress of a Turkish prince, who has condemned them to death out of jealousy. Only with the help of Gypsy and her friend Albazar she managed to escape. The poet promises to help her back to meet with the prince.
At the port of Naples Fiorilla observed the arrival of Selim, a Turkish prince who wants to get to know the Italian way of life. Quick fall in love the two. Geronio and Narciso are devastated and consult with Prosdocimo what to do next. For the poet, the development of his story is in the foreground, but the two companions refuse to be just puppets in Prosdocimos game.
Meanwhile Fiorilla Selim invited for coffee. Geronio makes a scene, but is calmed by his wife. Selim uses the friendliness of Italian husbands for another rendezvous with Fiorilla to agree on the harbor. After the rival has disappeared, is Geronio his wife to task, but once again it Fiorilla to appease her helpless husband.
Prosdocimo meanwhile, is unhappy that he can not follow the current trend. All the more pleased he is when he can observe a meeting of Selim and Zaida, when Selim recognizes the companion, and again kindled with love for her. But Fiorilla surprised the two lovers and there is a loud argument. Right in the middle is the poet who is cheering the wild goings and joyfully observed - better can not end the first act of his opera buffa.
Selim but chose: he wants according to Turkish custom Fiorilla ransom from her husband. But Geronio rejects the reference to Italian customs and there will be a duel between the two, but that does not bring any decision. Women may also come to no agreement at a meeting. There remains only the nightly masked ball to weave to the different plot threads. On this ball is Fiorilla Selim and want to meet in disguise and escape together. The poet convinced Zaida and Geronio to dress in the same way and so to cause confusion and to frustrate the flight. Narciso overheard the plans and shall also act in the lining of the Turks at the masked ball to occur.
At the ball Selim now holds the disguised Zaida for Fiorilla, Fiorilla Narciso for Selim. The cuckolded husband Geronio can Zaida and Fiorilla in her disguise not differ and is the laughingstock of the ball guests. But the masked ball brings a reconciliation of Zaida and Selim. Now Prosdocimo brings out the last beat and persuaded Geronio sham divorce filed. Fiorilla, the lover and abandoned by the husband, is in despair and regret their actions. So the moral is secured and the poet can satisfy the happy ending note: Because in the end forgives his unfaithful wife Geronio.
Numbers
Sinfonia
Act I 1 Introduzione Nostra patria è il mondo intero ( Zaida, Albazar, Prosdocimo, chorus) 2 Cavatina Vado in traccia d' una zingara ( Geronio ) 3 Cavatina Non si dà follia maggiore ( Fiorilla )
4 Un marito trio sciuminto! ( Prosdocimo, Geronio Narciso ) 5 quartet Siete Turchi, non vi credo ( Fiorilla, Selim, Geronio Narciso ) 6 Per piacere alla signora duet ( Geronio Fiorilla ) 7 Finale I Gran meraviglie ( choir, Zaida, Selim, Prosdocimo, Narciso, Fiorilla, Geronio Albazar ) act II 8 duet D'un bell'uso di Turchia ( Selim, Geronio ) 9 Chorus and Cavatina Non v'è piacer perfetto - Se il zefiro si posa ( Fiorilla ) 10 duet Credete all femmine ( Selim, Fioirlla ) 11 Recitative and Aria Intesi, ah! Tutto intesi - Tu seconda il mio disegno ( Narciso ) 12 aria Ah, sarebbe troppo dolce ( Albazar ) 13 Choir Amor la danza mova 14 Quintet Oh, guardate che accidente! ( Geronio, Narciso, Zaida, Selim, Fioirlla, chorus) 15 Recitative and Aria I vostri cenci vi Rimando - Squallida veste bruna and ( Fiorilla, chorus) 16 Finale II Son la vite sul campo appassita ( Fioirlla, Geronio Prosdocimo, choir, Selim, Zaida, Narciso )