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Overview

Synopsis

There are many stories on offer for the poet Prosdocimo, who is searching for a subject for a comedy he wants to write. Firstly, the gypsy Zaida offers him her story: she used to be a member of the Turkish Prince Selim’s harem, but when she and her master fell in love it became dangerous for them, so she fled to Naples, and lives as a gypsy. With an unknown Turkish Prince arriving in Naples imminently he might be able to tell them something of Selim, which could provide some interesting material for Prosdocimo’s comedy. Secondly, he could write about the forlorn Don Geronio, who looks to the gypsies for guidance in his marital problems. His wife, Donna Fiorilla, is far more interested in freedom and new romances than she is in being a faithful wife, as her secret affair with Narciso will attest.

Prosdocimo actually does not have to choose, as the arrival of the Turkish Prince entwines both stories. It turns out that the Prince is, in fact, Selim, and Zaida’s love for him is immediately reignited on seeing him. Donna Fiorilla also finds herself instantly attracted to this mysterious stranger. Will Selim reunite with Zaida, or will he accept Fiorilla’s offer to divorce her husband for him? Will Geronio let his wife leave him for this stranger? What will happen to her lover, Narciso? Prosdocimo follows the lovers through their farcical meetings, cases of mistaken identity, threats of divorce, and a complex plot to elope during a masked ball, to find out the answers and complete his writing.

Although careful handling of the racial representations is required in productions of this opera, which is very much a product of its time, nevertheless Il turco in Italia still offers an audience a fun farce, which considers many important questions about marriage and romance. All of this is set against another of Rossini’s excellent scores, promising a fun and frothy experience for all.

Show Information

Libretto
Felice Romani
Category
Opera
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1814
Genres
Farce, Romance, Comedy
Settings
Multiple Settings, Period
Time & Place
Naples, Napoli, 18th century
Cast Size
medium
Orchestra Size
Medium
Dancing
Some Dance
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
College/University, Professional Opera, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast

Context

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Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Prince Selim Damelec

Lead

Male

Bass

Donna Fiorilla

Lead

Female

Soprano

Don Geronio

Lead

Male

Bass

Don Narciso

Lead

Male

Tenor

Zaida

Lead

Female

Mezzo-Soprano, Soprano

Prosdocimo

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Albazar

Featured

Male

Tenor

Chorus

Ensemble

Either Gender

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Contralto

Songs

Author’s note on numbering: there are several different editions of this opera, which all have different numbers for musical movements, and different scene separations. The breakdown below is designed as a guide only, and may differ from other sources.

Overture

Act 1

Scene 1

  • Introduction and Chorus ‘Nostra patria e il mondo in terro’ - Chorus, Zaida, Albazar, Prosdocimo

Scene 2

  • Aria ‘Ah! Se di questi zingari ‘l’arrivo’ - Prosdocimo

Scene 3

  • Cavatina ‘Vado in traccia d’una zingara’ - Geronio, Zaida, Chorus

Scene 4

  • Scene ‘Brava! Intesi ogni cosa’ - Prosdocimo, Zaida, Albaza

Scene 5

Scene 6

  • Scene ‘Voga, voga’ - Chorus, Fiorilla
  • Duet ‘Bella Italia’ - Selim, Fiorilla

Scene 7

  • Scene ‘Della Zingara amante’ - Prosdocimo, Narciso

Scene 8

  • Scene ‘Amici...soccorretemi...consigliatemi…’ - Geronio, Narciso, Prosdocimo
  • Trio ‘Un marito scimunito’ - Prosdocimo, Geronio, Narciso

Scene 9

  • Scene ‘Ola: tosto il caffe’ - Fiorilla, Selim
  • Quartet ‘Siete turchi!’ - Fiorilla, Selim, Geronio, Narciso

Scene 10

  • Scene ‘Ecco qui… da soli a soli…’ - Geronio, Selim, Fiorilla

Scene 11

  • Scene ‘Ciel! Che vedo!’ - Narciso, Fiorilla, Geronio, Selim

Scene 12

  • Scene ‘Sono arrivato tardi’ - Prosdocimo, Geronio

Scene 13

  • Scene ‘Il poeta ha ragione’ - Geronio, Fiorilla
  • Duet ‘Per piacere alla Signora’ - Geronio, Fiorilla

Scene 14

  • Scene ‘Ho quasi del mio dramma’ - Prosdocimo

Scene 15

  • Finale I ‘Gran meraviglie’ - Zaida, Chorus

Scene 16

  • ‘Per la fuga e tutto lesto’ - Selim, Prosdocimo, Zaida

Scene 17

  • ‘Perche mai se son tradito’ - Narciso,
  • Scene ‘Evviva l’amore, il foco vitale’ - Chorus, Fiorilla, Selim, Geronio, Narciso, Prosdocimo
  • Septet ‘Ah! Che il cor non m’ingannava’ - Fiorilla, Selim, Narcis, Geronio, Prosdocimo, Albazar

Act 2

Scene 1

  • Scene ‘A proposito, amico’ - Selim, Prosdocimo, Geronio

Scene 2

  • Duet ‘D’un bell’uso di Turchi’ - Selim, Geronio

Scene 3

  • Scene ‘Credeva che questa scene’ - Prosdocimo

Scene 4

  • Aria and Chorus ‘Non v’e piacer … Se il zeffiro si posa a carezzare un fior’ - Fiorilla, Chorus

Scene 5

  • Scene ‘Scusate… errai…’ - Zaida, Fiorilla

Scene 6

  • Scene ‘Trovarvi sola finalmente io credea’ - Selim, Fiorilla, Zaida

Scene 7

  • Scene ‘Povera Zaida!’ - Selim, Fiorilla,
  • Duet ‘Credete alle femmine’ - Selim, Fiorilla

Scene 8

Scene 9

  • ‘Oh! Che fatica!’ - Prosdocimo, Albazar

Scene 10

  • ‘Ah! Sarebbe troppo dolce’ - Albazar

Scene 11

  • ‘Amore la danza mova’ - Chorus, Fiorilla, Narciso, Selim, Geronio, Zaida
  • Quintet ‘Oh guardate che accidente!’ - Geronio, Narciso, Zaida, Selim, Fiorilla, Chorus

Scene 12

  • ‘Ah! Poeta, on sai…’ - Geronio, Prosdocimo, Albazar

Scene 13

  • Scene ‘Chi avria creduto a questo segno audace Narciso!’ - Fiorilla, Prosdocimo
  • Aria ‘Squallida veste e bruna d’ffano’ - Fiorilla, Chorus, Prosdocimo
  • Aria ‘Caro padre, madre amata’ - Fiorilla, Chorus

Scene 14

  • Scene ‘Si: mi e forza partir’ - Fiorilla, Prosdocimo, Geronio
  • Trio ‘Son la vite sul campo appassita’ - Fiorilla, Geronio, Prosdocimo

Final Scene

  • Finale II ‘Rida a voi sereno il cielo’ - Tutti

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

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Guide Written By:

Wendy Silvester

Wendy Silvester

Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.