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Not that Rossini can easily be put down, and Fo must just forgive me if I prefer further viewings with eyes closed. Musically Rossini is on top form at curtain-up, when Alberto (Charles Workman in search of a wife), Agata Bienkowska as Madame La Rose and Simón Orfila's played-out Traversen expound their aims to the chorus [watch and listen -- DVD1 chapter 7, 25:45-27:00]. The subject of the advertisement is the Lisetta of Cinzia Forte, who thwarts her father by falling in love with Filippo, owner of the hotel where they're staying. She knows exactly what she's after and has the strength of character to get it [watch and listen -- DVD1 chapter 9, 32:38-33:37].

As Doralice (almost a combination of the dupes in Mozart's Così) Marisa Martins is also at the hotel and ogled mainly by Traversen. Some might think, perhaps, that she spends too much time playing with cocks during her aria [watch and listen -- DVD1 chapter 11, 48:10-49:16]. In conclusion it must be said that no director can stifle the élan of a Rossini finale, any more than any conductor or orchestra can fail to relish every note as the whole company lets fly at maximum voltage [watch and listen -- DVD1 chapter 15, 73:21-74:59]. If Fo tries yet harder in Act 2, it is your sense of humour that must be the ultimate judge, not mine.