The background colors offer a calm tone compared to the fast and funny stories happening on the stage, at a dress rehearsal Tuesday night at the MAC.
The Jacobs School of Music will open its season this semester with “The Italian Girl in Algiers” at 8 p.m. Friday at the Musical Arts Center.
The cast is also performing at 8 p.m. Sept. 20, 26 and 27. Tickets are available online at music.indiana.edu or at the MAC box office, open Monday through Friday.
The performances Sept. 19 and Sept. 20 will also be available via a live stream from IUMusic Live .
The opera will be performed along with the music school’s orchestra.
The two-act drama by the iconic Italian composer Gioachino Rossini tells the story of the arrogant king of Algiers, who hopes to win the heart of an Italian beauty, Isabella.
Isabella was captured from a shipwreck and taken to the Algerian court as a prospective wife for the Bey of Algiers, Mustafa.
However, Mustafa is already married to Elvira, whom he is trying to divorce in order to wed Isabella.
Mustafa plans to wed his current wife, Elvira, to his slave, Lindoro. ?However, Lindoro is already betrothed to Isabella.
As soon as Isabella sees Lindoro, she plans an escape for the two of them and outwits Mustafa.
“I believe the show addresses several issues. The very important thing would be women rights,” stage director Julia Pevzner said. “It shows that women or wives should not only be ?properties of their husbands.”
Pevzner originally came from a Russian heritage and lived in Israel for ?several years.
“I’ve done many works in the U.S. But it’s the first time I’ve come to Indiana,” Pevzner said. “I think it’s so wonderful that IU has such a professional and a great facility for its students and faculties. It’s very unique worldwide.”
The music in the opera is very emotionally colorful, said vocalist Rafael Porto, who plays Mustafa.
“I definitely think the color tune of the singing part is fantastic,” he said. “I couldn’t have done any of it without the help of all the distinguished faculty members in the music school.”
While Porto has had opera experience in the past, including Rossini pieces, the role is still new to him.
“I’ve done many other Rossini operas, but this would be the first time I have played Mustafa,” Porto said. “Mustafa is kind of a chief of all the lands, so he is such a self-obsessed man who is constantly in love with himself. The funniest part about Mustafa is how serious and loved he thinks he is.”
The new role comes with many challenges, but Porto has worked through them in practice and rehearsals, which constitute hours of work for the ?performers.
Each opera requires new challenges for the ?actors, who practice daily.
“The most challenging part of acting would be isolating myself from other characters and the audience while everything is happening, like Isabella is literally tricking me in her part.”
The stage design is another part of the opera that helps Porto get into character and overcome the challenges of his character.
“The stage design is majestic, very beautiful and elegant. We have some of the best pieces owned by the music school,” Porto said. “It helps me get into the role sooner and better. However, I do believe that the best acting comes out of the inside of ourselves rather than the setting. It’s when you feel the character of the comedies behind the story.”
