Italian composer Gioacchino Rossini`s classic opera buffa (comic opera) is one of the shining stars of the genre. Written when he was a very youthful twenty-one years old, L`ITALIANA IN ALGERI is a triumph of music and wit. This video captures a 1987 performance at the Schwetzingen Festival. Enacted by the Zurich Opera House and conducted by Ralf Weikert, it is a beautifully designed and masterfully sung production. Renowned mezzo-soprano Doris Soffel is a hit as the main character, Isabella.