L’Italiana in Algeri

Live performance from the Schwetzinger Festspiele, 1987. At the age of 21, Italian composer Giacchino Rossini penned the masterful comic opera “L’Italiana in Algeri” (“The Italian Girl in Algiers”) in less than a month. The composer’s youthful exuberance comes across in this infectious 1987 performance. Though she’s known mainly for her Wagner roles, acclaimed German mezzo-soprano Doris Soffel shines in the title role of Isabella. Ralf Weikert conducts, and Mauro Pagano oversees sets and costumes.

Cast

Doris Soffel

Isabella

Robert Gambill

Lindoro

Günter von Kannen

Mustafà

Enric Serra

Taddeo

Nuccia Focile

Elvira

Susan Maclean

Zulma

Rudolf Hartmann

Haly