Publication Date: Friday Oct 16, 1998

First pick

David Sloss has strong feelings about Gioachino Rossini's "The Italian Girl in Algiers."

"Of all the Rossini operas, after 'Barber of Seville,' I think this has the most appealing score and is the best comedy," says the general director of Palo Alto's own West Bay Opera.

So the natural question is why the opera company waited so long to stage this melodic and humorous story of foolish abduction, lovers' reunion and clever escape.

"There are thousands and thousands of operas, and we only do three a year, so it takes us a while to get around to every one," Sloss replies with a laugh. Sloss is quick to add, however, "It didn't take me very long."

True. For the first show of the first season in which Sloss is entirely responsible for the repertoire, he picked the Rossini piece. Sloss, who had worked as one of West Bay Opera's music directors since 1981, became its general director in June, following the 1996 death of co-founder Maria Holtz.

Sloss says he picked "The Italian Girl in Algiers," which opens tonight at Lucie Stern Theatre, partly because it is one of Rossini's wittiest and most charming scores.

Rossini's comic opera tells the "The King and I"-like story of Mustafa, the bey of Algiers, who is bored with his wife, Elvira. He sends Haly, the captain of the guard, to find a glamorous Italian wife for him. Lindoro, an Italian being held at the bey's court, has been separated from his fiancee, Isabella, who at that moment is conveniently shipwrecked on the shores of Algiers while looking for him. Isabella and her entourage, of course, are captured by Haly and brought to Mustafa. Reunited with her fiance, Isabella decides to outwit the bey using her feminine wiles.

Will it work?

What do you think?

Yes, it's no secret that Mustafa is played for a chump and Isabella, Lindoro and the rest of the Italians live happily ever after.

Rossini's opera was set in the modern day of that time--it debuted in Venice on May 22, 1813--but West Bay has updated the setting by 110 years or so.

"We've gone all the way up to the 1920s, which allows us to do some things that are fun," says Sloss, who is serving as the music director in this production.

One of those fun things is that the Italians, shipwrecked in the original piece, now arrive by dirigible.

"You are going to be laughing with delight at the dirigible," Sloss predicts. "The only reason why I regret that I told you about (the dirigible) is that it makes for a wonderful surprise. So you can tell your readers (and) they can forget they read it."

You heard the man. Forget you read it.

What: West Bay Opera presents "The Italian Girl in Algiers."

When: Curtain times are 8:15 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Show runs tonight, Saturday and Sunday and Oct. 23-25.

Where: Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto.

How much: Tickets are $33. A youth ticket price of $17, for those under 18, is available for the Sunday matinees.

Information: Call 424-9999. 

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