The Met revives L'Italiana in Algeri.
by Paul J. Pelkonen
From Mozart's Die Entführung aus dem Serail to John Adams' The Death of Klinghoffer, the Muslim world has long been fertile ground for opera composers. On Tuesday night, the Metropolitan Opera revived L'Italiana in Algeri, a Rossini comedy that treats the efforts of an Algerian bey (ruler) to recruit an Italian girl for his harem as the broadest possible farce. The opera marked James Levine's first performance in the Met pit in his new role of Music Director Emeritus, a role he embraced last season.
by Paul J. Pelkonen
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| Veiled innuendo: Ildar Abdrazakov (left) mugs for Marianna Pizzolatto in the Met's revival of L'Italiana in Algeri. Photo © 2016 |
