It actually wasn't as big a shock for me, as with L'Italiana in Algeria and Il Barbiere Di Siviglia I have heard Rossini performed in German before. Il Turco in Italia I hadn't, so it was interesting rather than unusual, though I can understand completely why others will find it so. Here you do slightly miss the poetry of the Italian language- though German as heard with Lieder has instances where it is also poetic- but when it is performed as well as it is in this production it doesn't matter. There was very little wrong here, except for Adolf Dallapozza who overacts as Narciso and whose voice is too heavy and lacking in dynamic range and agility. Those who don't take kindly to cuts will not like that the soprano's final aria is omitted. The production looks beautiful though, it is traditional and has a very luxurious look to it, while the photography compliments it as well as capturing the action well. The stage direction is very funny, involving and done with intelligence with no hints of dullness. The quartet was particularly well done. The music is beautifully played by the orchestra and sung with clarity by the chorus, while the conducting has lively tempos, a good sense of the Rossini style and fluid phrasing. Dallapozza aside, the performances are great. Oscar Czerwenka may come across as a little hammy at times, but he gives his all in a way that is always compelling to watch and displays a hearty well-produced sound that isn't too blustery. Rohangiz Yachmi is good also as Zaid. Barry McDaniel has a beautiful voice that has power and agility, and he is a gifted comic actor, and the same goes for Hermann Prey who I can never get enough of. Ingeborg Hallstein stood out for me the most though, she is very beautiful, has a voice and diction as clear as a bell and acts with a great deal of simple charm, it is very easy for anybody watching to warm to her. Overall, a fun production where Hallstein is particularly good. 8/10 Bethany Cox
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