From around the world: Vienna.(International ... a production of Il Turco in Italia displays Dominique Mentha's innovative approach)(Opera Review)

Who could guess that Dominique Mentha's parting gesture to Vienna (where he was harshly criticized by press, politicians and public) would result in one of the best opera productions the city has seen in years? Mentha's rocky tenure as Intendant of the Volksoper was cut short in October 2002, when he was given his walking papers two years before his contract was up. (He takes up the reins of Lucerne's opera next season.) He leaves behind a production of Rossini's oft-neglected Il Turco in Italia (seen June 13) that proved an utter delight.

Mentha placed the action in a Neapolitan trattoria; Werner Hutterli's sun-drenched set was filled with such atmospheric detail that one could almost taste the espresso. Even the supertitles contributed to the zaniness, introducing and commenting on characters and action. The entire cast displayed split-second timing in magnificently silly gimmickry that incorporated flying cutlery, yanking tablecloths and furiously wielded toothpaste. Portly Don Geronio, in a chef's toque, eavesdropped on Fiorilla and Selim by concealing himself behind a sandwich-board--that depicted a portly man in a chef's toque. Mentha's direction took its cue from Rossini's sly, giddy music: never pandering or obscene, it truly tickled the funny bone.

During his tenure, Mentha built in indisputably solid musical ensemble, and he ...