Wonderfully Resourceful Rossini's 'Il Turco in Italia' - reviewed by ROBERT ANDERSON 'The orchestra under Antonello Allemandi seem to have relished the evening as much as I did.'

Having taken his Italian girl to Algeria with triumphant success, it was natural that Rossini should bring a Turk to Italy for comparable acclaim. The story is cunningly constructed, having a poet with writer's block as protagonist. Prosdocimo's literary problem will be solved as he observes the progress of the opera in all its absurdity. He carries in his hair a pen for instant note-taking, and over his shoulder a string of books containing presumably completed dramas. He not only watches developments, but conspires to direct the action to his own advantage...

GIOACCHINO ROSSINI

ITALY