L'italiana in Algeri

1986 2h 30m IT

🤯

10.0

MASTERPIECE

★10.0TMDB · 1

Music

Synopsis

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L'ITALIANA IN ALGERI is an operatic dramma giocoso in two acts by Gioachino Rossini to an Italian libretto by Angelo Anelli. Rossini composed L'italiana in Algeri when he was 21 in either 18 or 27 days, depending on which source one believes (Rossini, not surprisingly, pegged it at 18). It premiered at the Teatro San Benedetto in Venice on 22 May 1813. The music is characteristic of Rossini's style, remarkable for its fusion of sustained, manic energy with elegant, pristine melodies. The plot, in brief: Isabella’s lover Lindoro has been kidnapped, and in her search for him she is shipwrecked and taken captive by Mustafa, Bey of Algiers. To her amazement and delight, she finds Lindoro among the Bey’s prisoners. Isabella hatches a plot that involves flirtation and stealth, and together she and Lindoro escape. Marilyn Horne, Pablo Montarsolo, Douglas Ahistedt, and Allan Monk star in this legendary Metropolitan Opera production conducted by James Levine.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Marilyn Horne
Isabella
Paolo Montarsolo
Mustafà
Douglas Ahlstedt
Lindoro
Allan Monk
Taddeo
Myra Merritt
Elvira
Diane Kesling
Zulma
Spiro Malas
Haly
MET Orchestra
Orchestra

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jean-Pierre Ponnelle
Writers: Angelo Anelli
Languages: Italian
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

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Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

RUNTIME

Did you know

Clocks in at 150 minutes — on the longer side of feature-length cinema.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

ERA

Did you know

40 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Gioachino Rossini. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Marilyn Horne and Paolo Montarsolo and Douglas Ahlstedt carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt1214968 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

Only 1 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jean-Pierre Ponnelle directs. Gioachino Rossini scores. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in Italian.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Clocks in at 150 minutes — on the longer side of feature-length cinema.
240 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Original score by Gioachino Rossini. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Marilyn Horne and Paolo Montarsolo and Douglas Ahlstedt carry the top of the cast.
6IMDB entry: tt1214968 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Only 1 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.