<<  -- 3 --  Robert Anderson    ON TOP FORM

By the start of Act 2 the eunuchs are further emboldened and are prepared to announce publicly that their boss Mustafà is a stupid dolt, addled by love for Isabella into uncharacteristic mildness [listen -- CD 2 track 1, 0:00-1:10]. Lindoro has his great moment when all misunderstandings between him and Isabella have been ironed out, and he can rejoice unreservedly in the prospect of future bliss [listen -- CD 2 track 3, 0:00-1:18]. One of the most delicious episodes of the opera is when the love-lorn Mustafà is doing his utmost to be alone with Isabella and has arranged that a sneeze is signal for the rest to depart. Since Lindoro has no intention of allowing the Bey any chance with Isabella, Mustafà maddens himself with an endless series of sotto voce 'Atchoos', but to no avail. Faute de mieux, Mustafà has to take back his wife in the end, as Isabella is off to Italy with Lindoro, and her hilarious schemes for escape have both duped the Bey and brought him to his senses [listen -- CD 2 track 22, 1:22-2:26].

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