The Italian Girl in Algiers - Wellington

Courting trouble! Algiers in the 17th Century was a heady hotbed of polygamy, piracy and plotting in palaces, if Rossini’s beloved comic opera is anything to go by. The Italian Girl in Algiers is a spicy brew in which many forces are at work – the battle of the sexes, the clash of cultures and the strict societal code of the times just for starters.

Rossini liked his women strong and feisty: here, the young and sassy Isabella is separated from her lover Lindoro after their ship is plundered by pirates. But Lindoro’s life is complicated enough already. His master in the Algerian court, the bey Mustafà is bored with his wife Elvira and is about to force Lindoro to marry her. Although Elvira can see herself with a handsome Italian toy boy, Lindoro isn’t so thrilled. Mustafà fancies the idea of an Italian woman heading up his harem and then Haly the pirate appears with his trophy prisoner Isabella. And now the fun really begins.

New Zealand-born, London-based mezzo soprano Wendy Dawn Thompson is returning to sing Isabella and Colin McColl, the Auckland Theatre Company’s Artistic Director, is filling the director’s chair.

Sung in Italian with English Surtitles

With members of the Chapman Tripp Opera Chorus
Accompanied by the Vector Wellington Orchestra

Subscriptions are now open for the 2009 Opera season, book online at www.nzopera.com
Single tickets are available at Ticketek (0800 842 538)