After Il barbiere di Siviglia and La Cenerentola, Rossini's third most frequently performed opera is L'italiana in Algeri.

This titillating tale belongs to the ranks of “rescue operas” – a favourite genre of the era that usually stipulated having a beautiful young woman being captured and awaiting torture or death until her heroic beloved arrives on the scene to rescue her.

In this case, a resourceful Italian lass is kidnapped by an Algerian bey yearning for a new wife, and outwits him herself – to everyone else's great satisfaction. The opera, containing a series of humorous yet deeply meaningful scenes, is presented in a staging by Máté Szabó.

Place: Opera House Budapest

Address: 1061 Budapest, Andrássy út 22