Saturday 25 March 2017

Edvard Grieg Choir participates in Bergen National Opera's production of Rossini's opera Il Turco in Italia .

See video from the performance

THE KING OF ITALIAN OPERA
The music is sophisticated, sumptuous, melodic and irresistible. Rossini, a master of elaborating complex human relationships and comic timing, here shows us his genius.

Rossini was the king of Italian opera in the first half of the 19th century. With musical brilliance, sensuality and vitality, he transformed opera in his homeland. Il turco, with wonderful arias and lively orchestration, premiered at La Scala in Milan in 1814, surprising audiences with its virtuosic ensemble scenes.

THE ACTION
In a small Italian town, the beautiful Fiorilla is tired of her elderly husband Geronimo. Around her swarms the current flame Narciso, as well as the poet Prosdocimo, who hopes to pick up ideas for his new opera. One day, the glamorous Selim sails into port - a new exciting object for her extramarital escapades. But – his former love, Zaida, also lives on the beach.
A masquerade ball creates complete confusion: Selim and Zaida reunite, much to Fiorilla's dismay. Geronimo announces that he will divorce Fiorilla and for the first time she is confronted with her own destructive personality. Will her husband take her back?

MARIA CALLAS AND ROSSINI
Rossini was only 22 years old when he wrote this dazzling and complex mixture of farce, intrigue and human frailty. This was his 13th opera and the third for La Scala in Milan and Fiorilla's immorality caused raised eyebrows at the premiere. The opera was then forgotten until the great Maria Callas decided that Fiorilla was a dream role, and the opera then became an immediate success with her.

BIG VOICES
In Bergen, our mischievous heroine is a lovely Spanish soprano, Sylvia Schwartz. The solid Italian baritone Guido Loconsolo sings Selim. Geronimo, patient, confused and furious, is sung by the exquisite and funny Italian baritone, Pietro Spagnoli.

"In his Met debut, the Italian baritone Pietro Spagnoli brings a muscular voice and comedic air to the role..." The New York Times

HOLLYWOOD MEETS MEDITERRANEAN GLAM
BNO is thrilled to welcome back director Mark Lamos and designer George Souglides. The same team was behind Gullhanen in 2014, which received excellent reviews. In "The Turk in Italy" we can expect a glamorous meeting between Hollywood and the Mediterranean: "lavish" ballroom costumes and great scenography. It will be colorful!