La Cucina

It is the day that has been set aside to celebrate the wedding of the middle-aged Caliph to young Adina; everyone is rejoicing about the event.

At the same time, a young Arab named Selimo who is in love with Adina and knows nothing about the wedding has learned that the girl is a prisoner in the Caliph’s harem. The two young people, who have been in love since their adolescent years, were actually on the point of getting married when they were tragically separated. Soon Selimo will learn that Adina is now to marry the Caliph and from there the story unfolds with themes of love, betrayal and jealousy. Adina will be prefaced by La cucina which tells the story of a chef's assistant, Bianca, who is baking a wedding cake. The music channels the comic spirit of Rossini as it follows the ups and downs of our heroine. It is joyous and passionate in equal measure and full to the brim with ravishing orchestral colour.