From our archives

In 1818, having travelled to Bologna, Rossini accepted the invitation of the inspector of theatres in Portugal, Diego Ignazio de Pina Manique, to write the farce Adina. The opera, a farce in one act to a libretto by Marquis Gherardo Bevilacqua-Aldobrandini, was first performed at the Teatro de San Carlos in Lisbon on June 12th, 1826. Performers in the first performance were Jõao Oracio Cartagenova (Califfo), Luiza Valesi (Adina), Luiz Ravaglia (Selimo), Gaspar Martinelli (Alì), Filippe Spada (Mustafà). The autograph is kept at the Rossini Foundation in Pesaro.

The opera debuted at the ROF in 1999, under the baton of Yves Abel and directed by Moni Ovadia, with sets and costumes by Gianni Carluccio and lighting by Gigi Saccomandi. Abel conducts the ORT - Orchestra Regionale della Toscana.and the Prague Chamber Choir.In the cast, Pietro Spagnoli (Califo), Alexandrina Pendatchanska (Adina), Antonino Siragusa (Selimo), Massimo Giordano (Alì), Roberto De Candia (Mustafà). The performance was revived in 2003, with Renato Palumbo conducting the Orchestra of the Teatro Comunale di Bologna and the Prague Chamber Choir. The singing company included Marco Vinco (Califo), Joyce DiDonato (Adina), Raul Giménez (Selimo), Saimir Pirgu (Alì), Carlo Lepore (Mustafà).In 2018, Rosetta Cucchi staged a new production of the opera, co-produced with the Wexford Festival, with sets by Tiziano Santi, costumes by Claudia Pernigotti and lighting by Daniele Naldi. Diego Matheuz conducts the Orchestra Sinfonica G. Rossini and the Chorus of the Teatro della Fortuna. In the cast, Vito Priante (Califo), Lisette Oropesa (Adina), Levy Sekgapane (Selimo), Matteo Macchioni (Alì), Davide Giangregorio (Mustafà).