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The Italian Girl in Algiers
 by Gioacchino Rossini
The action of The Italian Girl in Algiers takes place in Algiers during
the eighteenth century.
Act I
Scene one: A small apartment in Mustafa's palace
Scene two: Near the seashore
Scene three: A small apartment in the Bey's palace
Scene four: A magnificent hall in the palace
INTERMISSION
Act II
Scene one: A small apartment in the Bey's palace
Scene two: A large apartment in the palace
Scene three: A small apartment in Mustafa's palace
Scene four: A grand hall in the palace
Mustafa, the Bey of Algeria, has grown tired of his wife Elvira and sends
Ali, the captain of his guard, to find an Italian wife for him. Lindoro,
an Italian slave at the Bey's court, bemoans the absence of Isabella,
his Italian fiancee. Isabella is conveniently shipwrecked on the shores
of Algeria while roaming the seas searching for Lindoro. Her traveling
companion is the foolish old Taddeo, who loves her. Ali brings his captives
to the Bey, and Isabella is reunited with Lindoro. The Bey, however, insists
that Lindoro marry Elvira to take her off his hands and free him to marry
Isabella. Isabella manages to avoid being alone with Mustafa, declaring
that she will marry him only on condition that he go through an ancient
and noble ceremony of proving that he will make a completely docile husband.
At the end of the ridiculous initiation ceremony, a boat which Isabella
has ordered appears; she and Lindoro embark with the rest of the Italian
colony in Algiers. Realizing that he has been hoodwinked, Mustafa perforce
forgives his departing captives and returns to Elvira.
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