For the festive season: slyness and sex appeal in this amusing comedy by Rossini starring Varduhi Abrahamyan and Luca Pisaroni

L’italiana in Algeri espouses the cause of women's rights through the resourceful way its protagonist, Isabella, deals with the coarse Mustafà. Rossini was only 21 when he triumphed with this two-act farce, which consolidated his personal style and his status as the rightful heir of 18th-century opera buffa. Great arias and dazzling ensembles – like the one punctuated by onomatopoeia at the end of the first act – are just a few of the gourmet dishes on this hilarious Rossini menu. It has been 36 years since L’italiana in Algeri was last seen at the Liceu.

Riccardo Frizza will be back in the orchestra pit with an entire cast of specialists in this style of opera on the stage. The bright colours of director Vittorio Borrelli's mise-en-scène are very much in keeping with the imaginative spirit of Rossini's sparkling music.

L'italiana in Algeri

Dramma giocoso in two acts. Libretto by Angelo Anelli. World premiere: 22/05/1813 at the San Benedetto Theatre in Venice. First Barcelona performance: 28/08/1815 at the Teatre de la Santa Creu. First Liceu performance: 23/12/1869. Last Liceu performance: 18/12/1982. Number of Liceu performances: 13.

Artistic profile

Conductor

Riccardo Frizza

Stage director

Vittorio Borrelli

Set desig

Claudia Boasso

Costumes

Santuzza Calì

Lighting

Andrea Anfossi

Production

Fondazione Teatro Regio di Torino

Symphony Orchestra and Chorus of the Gran Teatre del Liceu

Chorus director

Conxita Garcia