From Rossini, Italy’s grand master of hilarity comes a rollicking comedy with a magnificent score. THE TURK IN ITALY dazzles from the lowest bass notes to the impossibly stratospheric level of soprano Stacey Alleaume’s coloratura.
Conductor Andrea Molino heads up a sparkling team of comedic talents including Paolo Bordogna in his outrageously funny performance as the Turk and the bumbling, silly Warwick Fyfe as a jealous husband. Director Simon Phillips‘ playful, tongue in cheek production squeezes every last laugh from Rossini’s ribald romp.
Gabriela Tylesova’s vivaciously coloured costumes and clever revolving sets are stars in their own right; a bright lollypop on top of a richly creamy parfait.
Simon Phillips has said, “It’s just about as much fun you can have in an opera house”. Phillips has also toyed with the libretto, sprinkling it with larrikin, tongue in cheek humour to enhance this already dazzling production.
Written in 1814 by a 21 year old Rossini, this opera was rarely performed until Maria Callas rescued it with her bravura performances at La Scala, Milan in 1954,
Paying tribute to Callas this innovative production is set in the 1950’s in Southern Italy. This allows the principals and chorus to give free reign to a very witty and sexy performance.
This production has everything including a gypsy troupe, juggling and hula-hooping, a female chorus singing gloriously and looking gorgeous in fifties bikinis, the male chorus looking dashing as both gypsies and smartly costumed Turks, a flirtatious leading lady who plays havoc on the high C’s, an egotistical prince, a buffoon and jealous husband, and a writer in need of inspiration, cleverly making this a play within a play.
On a cold winter’s night, this production is the perfect antidote, transporting audiences to a sunny and very funny mid twentieth century Italy.
THE TURK IN ITALY is playing the Joan Sutherland Theatre until 1st September. The remaining performances are Saturday 18th August at 12.30pm, Thursday 23rd August at 7.30pm, Saturday 25th August at 7.30pm, Tuesday 28th August at 7.30pm, Thursday 30th August at 7.30pm and Saturday 1st September at 7.30pm.