Rossini composed “Il Turco” in 1814 and it was seen a kind of sequel to the “L'italiana in Algeri” – a still popular piece written in the genre of Dramma giocoso that in English stands for “a drama with jokes”. 

The story of “Il Turco” revolves around a young Turkish prince, who driven by a tempest, lands in Italy and falls in love with the first pretty woman that chance throws in his way. Object of his desire, a beautiful Italian Fiorilla is of course delighted with the attention and sees this as a welcome opportunity to torment her jealous husband. The plot thickens when it turns out that the prince also has an abandoned mistress still in love with him and Fiorella is admired by a lover who is not yet willing to give up his position. A worthy scenario for an opera, soap-opera or indeed… a TV show.

Cast

Musical Director and Conductor – Erki Pehk
Stage Director – Andrus Vaarik
Set and Costume designer – Madis Nurms
Choreographer – Dainius Bervingis
Lighting designer – Margus Vaigur
Video designer – Argo Valdmaa

Selim – Sargis Bazhbeuk-Melikyan (Armenia)
Donna Fiorilla – Hanna Tverdova (Ukraine)
Don Geronio – Taras Berezhansky (Ukraine)
Don Narciso – Yury Rostotsky (Russia), Mindaugas Jankauskas (Lithuania)
Prosdocimo – Vladyslav Tlushch (Ukraine), Andrius Apšega (Lithuania)
Zaida – Kamile Bonté (Lithuania)

The orchestra and chorus of the Kaunas State Music Theatre
Chorus master – Rasa Vaitkevičiūtė
Concertmaster of the orchestra – Povilas Grigas

Rossini was just 22 when he wrote “Il Turco in Italia”. It was his 13th opera and his third written for La Scala in Milan. Opera's exhilarating music includes an array of show-stopping arias, duets and a famous sparkling quintet “Oh! guardate che accidente”. In this, one of Rossini's most turbulent comedies, immodest action is married to some of his most glamorous music.

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