THE TURK IN ITALY

Opera Australia, Sydney. 10 August – 1 September 2018.

Rossini’s laugh-a-minute romp is opera buffa at its finest. Larger-than-life characters and 1950s seaside style combine with the delightful score, showcasing the coloratura of young soprano Stacey Alleaume as Florilla and the comic brilliance of Paolo Bordogna as the titular Turk. Debuting in 1814, this opera still charms newcomers and long-term fans alike, playing with the classic mixed-up lovers scenario, adding a poet looking for inspiration, a band of gypsies and a ship of Turkish sailors.