Il turco in ItaliaNouvelle production

Following the example of Stravinsky’s Pulcinella, Ottorino Respighi retrieved the music of Rossini for his ballet La Boutique fantasque in 1919. Likewise, three years later, Igor Stravinsky composed his opera Mavra inspired by the opera buffa of Rossini. Nevertheless - and in keeping with his autobiography - it was probably Alfredo Casella, who was the first important composer to see the “Swan” of Pésaro with eyes of the 20th century. In effect, it is almost impossible to not recognise in the libretto of Il turco in Italia similar premises which made Luigi Pirandello, also around 1920, a vanguard figure of theatre. In other words:  the modernity which Respighi, Stravinsky or Casella were intent on finding, had already been discovered a century before by Rossini.

Il turco in Italia, with its six characters in search of an author, its creative poet and a scintillating score, is a predestined tasty morsel for Laurent Pelly. The acclaimed and experienced master of comedy whom we have admired in La Fille du Régiment, Falstaff and Viva la mamma!, among other titles,  will  direct the staging of this hilarious comedy in a new production which promises to become, once again, a classic.