Giacomo Rossini wrote L’Italiana in Algeri in only 18 days when he was 21 years old – and now, almost 200 years later, audiences still thrill at both the manic energy and elegant melodies that make it a masterpiece.

This light-hearted production from the Teatro Comunale di Bologona stars Anna Maria Sarra as the broken-hearted Elvira, Michele Pertusi as the lecherous Mustafà, Edgardo Rocha as the devoted Lindoro and Marianna Pizzolato as the smart and resourceful Italian girl of the title.