Adina

Gioachino Rossini

Gioachino Rossini (1792–1868) was the most celebrated Italian composer of his age, a master of both opera buffa and opera seria. Born in Pesaro, he penned nearly forty operas before the age of thirty-seven, including immortal works such as “Il barbiere di Siviglia,” “La Cenerentola,” and “Guillaume Tell.” “Adina, ovvero Il Califfo di Bagdad” (1818), though lesser-known, showcases all the melodic wit, rhythmic verve, and vocal brilliance that made Rossini the darling of Europe.

Rossini’s distinctive style, characterized by elegant melodies, rapid vocal passages, lively rhythms, and inventive orchestration, had a profound influence on nineteenth-century opera. His music combines theatrical energy with remarkable technical precision, allowing singers to display both virtuosity and expressive range. Even today, his operas remain staples of the international repertoire, admired for their wit, brilliance, and enduring freshness.

After retiring from the operatic stage at the height of his fame, he spent his later years in Paris as a revered cultural figure and gourmet.

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Adina ovvero Il Califfo di Bagdad is a one-act romantic farce by Gioachino Rossini, with a libretto by Gherardo Bevilacqua-Aldobrandini, first performed in Lisbon in 1826. The story is set in the harem of the Caliph of Baghdad: the young slave Adina, kidnapped by pirates and sold to the sovereign, is destined to marry him because she reminds him of his lost lover, Zora. Her former lover Selimo, believed to be dead, manages to infiltrate the harem with the help of the gardener Mustafà to free her. Adina, who thought Selimo had disappeared, rejoices at seeing him again and agrees to flee with him under cover of night, despite her gratitude towards the Caliph, who has offered her a throne and a royal future.

The escape plan is discovered: the Caliph, jealous and furious, orders Selimo’s execution. At the climax, Adina faints and drops a necklace bearing a portrait of the Caliph in his youth, a gift he had once given to his beloved Zora. The revelation that Adina is the daughter of the Caliph and Zora halts the execution; the sovereign blesses the union of the two young lovers, welcomes Adina as his daughter and transforms the drama into a happy family and romantic ending.

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