The Turkish background of Italy

brief introduction

Rossini was inspired by the success of Italian girls in Algeria. When he was commissioned by Scala Theatre to write a new work, he had a brainwave and asked the Turks to change to Italy. So I asked Romanji to write a script and create this new work. At that time, although the first-class singers gathered together, they were unexpectedly criticized and failed, but the reason was definitely not music. In fact, this play does contain quite beautiful music. For example, both quartets and quintets have their own masterpieces, and a duet sung by the heroine and her husband is the softest and most diverse of this kind of music written by Rossini. The reason for the failure of the premiere of this play is the psychology of Milan audience. Milanese, who are often jealous of Venetians, think that this new work is only second-rate compared with the masterpiece Italian Girl in Algeria, which received rave reviews at the Venice premiere. It is asserted that Rossini was opportunistic, and after switching between the two countries at will in the previous play, he came to deceive the Milanese. If Milan people are not so sensitive and pay attention to music, we can find that Italian Turks do have their originality and special value, even if the music style is similar, the quality may be slightly lower. It's a pity that Milan people are not so calm. It is said that most of the audience only listened to the first act at the premiere, and immediately left the theater panting. Since then, this opera has not been performed in Milan for seven years.

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basic document

Playing time: overture 8 minutes; The first act is 7 points; Act II: Page 36.

Characters in the play:

Selim (Turkish King) Bass

Don Geroni O (Fiorilla's husband) Bass.

Fiorilla (Geroni Ou's wife) soprano.

Don Nagiso (Fiorilla's lover) Bess

Chaida (a gypsy girl fascinated by Selim) is a soprano.

The poet (playwright of this opera) baritone.

Abel (gypsy) tenor

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Plot introduction

Overture: d major. This is Rossini's first overture for the orchestra of Scala Theatre. When he was composing music, he was clearly aware of this leading orchestra in Italy at that time. The prologue is a long solo part of French horn, in order to let the famous French trumpeter at that time, Luger Belloli of Scala Theatre, show his talents. Later, this part was transferred to otero's overture.

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First act

The first field

The coast near Naples. When the gypsies are singing happily on the coast, the poet is walking here and thinking about the plot of Opera Bufa. Saida, a gypsy girl, once fell in love with Turkish King selim, but the king finally abandoned her because he misunderstood her infidelity. However, even so, Chai Da still loves selim. After seeing these gypsies, the poet decided to let them appear in his new song play first. Then there was the beautiful young lady Fiorilla he knew, and her husband, the old biscuit master Don Geroni. At this time, Gronio just came over and showed Chaida's palm. He left unhappily because she said, "Your wife may be having an affair." . Poets and gypsies also left. Then, Fiorilla and her girlfriends came to the seaside for a walk. Her appearance is typical in a period of burnout, lazily singing an aria that "loving only one man will make people crazy". At this moment, a Turkish ship came. Because these Italian girls were depressed, they became very happy when they saw Turkish men, so they soon became good friends. Fiorilla fell in love with the handsome selim at first sight, so they sang the duet bella italia together. After that, Fiorilla invited selim to have tea at home, and Geronie O, who witnessed this scene in the hiding place, stayed for a long time. At this time, Nakisso, who was madly in love with Fiorilla, came, so Geroni asked him how his wife would handle it better if she took the Turks home. When the poet reappears and sees two big men become speechless, it means that the plot of the first act has been decided, and then he begins to write the story of the second act. He asked her husband to jump on his wife panting and fight with him.

The second field

Fiorella's home. Selim flirted with Fiorilla while drinking coffee, but she didn't believe his sweet words. This is a duet "I don't believe you". When her husband came back, selim pulled out his dagger when he was nervous, so it was her husband who was scared out of her wits. The alert Fiorilla quickly said, "My husband has come to pay tribute to the king", which resolved this embarrassing scene.

Selim resigned angrily because her courtship was not reciprocated. When everyone left, only Groni Osh was left, and the poet appeared quietly again. He came back to get the story book, and the poet incited Roger Neo to leave. After Fiorilla came back, a fierce quarrel broke out between husband and wife, and finally the husband was refuted by his wife.

Third field

Coast. Knowing that Chaida was once the king's lover, the poet tried to lead them to the seaside skillfully and reunite them. Selim, who came here, was overjoyed to find that Chaida was a former lover. At this moment, Nakhiso, Fiorilla and Geroni Obi-Wan arrived quietly. Fiorilla was jealous when she saw selim making out with another woman. She took off her veil in front of selim. From then on, the big quarrel between women began. The poet shouted that this was the most wonderful scene, cheering for two fighting women, and the curtain fell in a riot.

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Act ii

The first field

A room in the hotel. While Geronio was drinking with the poet, selim came to tell Geronio that Turkey has the custom of betraying his wife and asked him if he would like to transfer it, so he sang a song "Good Customs in Turkey" (D, un bell'uso di turchia). Geroni Ou replied that there is a custom in Italy to beat a pervert who comes to buy a wife. Selim was not only not fooled by him, but also warned him: "We are far from the habit of robbing women." Needless to say, the two began to quarrel and finally left through different doors.

Fiorilla invited Chai Da to come here and decided to invite selim to openly select the woman he wanted. When Selim appeared, under the pressure of two jealous women, he finally chose Fiola. She felt very satisfied and left the room together, holding selim's hand. Then the poet Groni O appeared with Nakisso. The poet stopped Groni O when he said he would kick his wife out of the house. He said that the Turks were going to sneak into the masquerade party, take Fiorilla away and flee back to Turkey, so he suggested that Fiorilla wear the same clothes as Chaida.

The second field

A masked ball. At the masquerade party, Chai Da, who was wearing the same clothes as Fiorilla, was ecstatic when selim held hands and danced with each other. Selim was really taken in by the poet, grabbed Chai Da and fled the scene.

Third field

Coast. In order to catch up with selim and Chaida, Fiorilla panted and ran to the coast, but her husband caught him red-handed. At this time, she finally came to her husband's side, which made Jeroni feel great comfort. At this moment, selim and Turks, Cheddar and Gypsies all appeared. They boarded the sailboat together in a friendly way and anchored at sea. In great happiness, the curtain fell.