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Act I

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The action begins on a beach near Naples, where, among the crowds passing by, gypsies are singing about how they have a pleasant life through the gullibility of other people (Nostra patria è il mondo intero). But Zaida is not happy, for she is separated from her fiancé Selim, a rich Turk. The poet Prosdocimo is looking for a subject for the next play he must write (Ho da far un dramma buffo). The gypsies seem to him to suggest just how to start the story he has in mind about capricious Fiorilla, whose jealous husband Don Geronio arrives now on cue, looking to have his fortune told (Vado in traccia d’una zingara). Zaida obliges him, but has fun at his expense, recognizing in him something of her own past; in turn, he convinces himself that the whole world must now know about his errant wife, and rushes off. As Zaida tells the poet, she was the love of Selim, who wanted to marry her, but he was made suspicious by her rivals, grew jealous and ordered Zaida to be put to death. Albazar saved her and fled with her to Italy, where they now hide among the gypsies. Touched by her story, Prosdocimo suggests that a Turkish prince due to arrive that evening may be able to intercede on her behalf – just leave it to him!

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Fiorilla arrives: yes, she knows she is fickle with her affections, but that’s just the way she is (Non si dà follia maggiore). The arrival of a fine yacht – from Turkey, by the look of it – attracts her attention, and as the ship is moored, the sailors look forward to a rest now they are on land under sunny Italian skies (Voga, voga, a terra, a terra). A dashing Turk disembarks and sings of how pleased he is to be on Italian soil (Bella Italia, alfin ti miro). Conveniently for Fiorilla, in search of some new amorous distraction, he is also handsome enough to make her want to take a closer look. They meet, they flirt and together – they leave.

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The poet can see that he has the makings of a comic story here, but hasn’t quite got it right yet. Fortunately for him, Don Narciso arrives – a lover of Fiorilla who is looking for her. Narciso is confused by her ever-changing attentions towards him and suspects her of keeping something from him; but Prosdocimo thinks to himself that this jealous lover could suggest just the new plot ideas he needs for his play. Geronio now reappears, distraught after seeing his wife taking a handsome Turk home for coffee. Geronio identifies the Turk as Selim, and the poet suddenly sees exactly where he thinks his plot will go, although his evident pleasure seems most inappropriate to the thwarted lover, and Geronio does not think it at all right that his life should be made the subject of Prosdocimo’s play (Un marito scimunito!).

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Meanwhile, in Fiorilla’s house, coffee is served and she continues her flirting with Selim – for someone used to a harem, surely he can’t just love one woman (Siete Turchi)? Geronio arrives, to the volatile Selim’s annoyance, but Fiorilla protests that her husband has only come to pay his respects – Italian husbands are more obliging than Turkish ones, she explains, making Geronio comply with her, furious as he is with her actions, but being afraid of the Turk who, in turn, is astonished at such a marital attitude (Io stupisco, mi sorprende). Observing this, Narciso believes that Fiorilla has entirely switched her affections from him to Selim and tries to protest. Selim leaves, but not before he has made an assignation with Fiorilla for the beach that evening.

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The poet arrives too late to catch Selim, but in time to see Geronio fuming that old men should not take young wives. While Geronio is finally fed up with his wife’s behaviour, she tells him he has changed and so lost her affections; to restore them he must resolve not to harbour any jealousy at all and to be silent on the subject (Per piacere alla signora). Geronio is unwilling to give in like this, and Fiorilla, protesting her love of her husband, promises revenge on his jealousy by bringing home a thousand lovers if she wishes (No mia vita, mio tesoro). Prosdocimo now has enough for the first act of his play, but still needs something more for a second; so, he is determined that Zaida should be restored to Selim.

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It is now night, and back on the beach, Zaida and the gypsies are singing of their fortune-telling skill (Gran meraviglie). Selim arrives, having made all the arrangements to elope with Fiorilla, when Zaida approaches and offers to read his fortune (Per la fuga è tutto lesto). He doesn’t recognize her at first, but she jogs his memory, and they are happily reunited: she is his one true love. Narciso turns up to complain that Fiorilla is ignoring his feelings (Perché mai se son tradito), while Geronio arrives just as everyone’s attention – including Selim’s – is drawn to a beautiful veiled woman (Chi servir non brama amor). She reveals herself as Fiorilla. Selim is ashamed to have been caught yet again switching his attentions from one woman to another, Narciso and Geronio are put out once more at the wayward wife’s behaviour, and Fiorilla and Zaida trade insults over Selim (Ah! che il cor non m’ingannava). Only the poet is happy: he now has plenty of good material for a really fine finale, for, as everyone sings, things get really stormy when two women are rivals in love (Quando il vento improvviso sbuffando).

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Act II

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Alone with the poet, Geronio runs through all the characteristics of his wife, which only makes him question her value (Se ho dirla avrei molto piacere). Selim meets Geronio to put a proposal to him; Prosdocimo, still looking for plot developments for his play, is around to listen in. Geronio must be very tired of his wife after nearly six years together, Selim suggests, so maybe Geronio would like to follow a Turkish custom and sell her to him (D’un bell’uso di Turchia). Geronio prefers to keep to Italian customs, so Selim offers more money, which is again refused (Se Fiorilla di vender bramate). Selim now promises to steal Fiorilla instead, and the two men almost come to blows before storming off. The plot is now getting a bit too long-winded for the poet, who concludes that he’d better find a way of bringing it all to a speedy end.

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Fiorilla arrives with friends, extolling the pleasures of love (Non v’è piacer perfetto). She is, however, determined to get her revenge on her impudent rival, Zaida, and so has invited her round upon the expectation of meeting Selim. The Turk duly arrives, but is put out to find Fiorilla is not alone and Zaida is also there. What’s more, Fiorilla makes him choose between them – which he can’t do. With both Fiorilla and Selim imagining a crafty plot on the part of the other, they taunt each other, argue, but finally make up, swearing undying love (Credete alle femmine).

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Prosdocimo tells Geronio that the Turk is planning to abduct Fiorilla and that he should disguise himself as a Turk to intercept them; Don Narciso overhears this and decides to thwart the plan by doing the same himself; he looks forward to the return of Fiorilla’s love to him and to revenge on his rival (Tu seconda il mio disegno). Fortunately for Prosdocimo’s scheme, Geronio nevertheless decides to continue with the plan to win back Fiorilla. Albazar arrives to tell Prosdocimo that he’s found a disguise for Zaida to wear, and all is ready for the plot’s denouement.

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At the ball, Geronio and Narciso arrive disguised as Turks, while Zaida poses as an Italian. Among the crowd, Fiorilla looks for Selim but mistakes Narciso for him; Selim mistakes Zaida for Fiorilla. Geronio thinks that it is actually Selim with Fiorilla, not Narciso, but then is thrown by the appearance of Zaida with Selim, and doesn’t know which of the two women is his own wife. Just as Selim and Zaida are about to leave, Geronio halts them, demanding his wife (Oh! guardate che accidente). In the confusion, Selim with Zaida and Narciso with Fiorilla slip away.

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Prosdocimo finds Geronio and reveals to him that it was Zaida who went off with Selim, so it must have been Narciso with Fiorilla. Geronio is persuaded that he should pretend to divorce Fiorilla, Albazar reassuring him that the Turk is now back with Zaida, so there’s no chance of Fiorilla taking the opportunity to leave. Scheming as ever in the cause of the plot of his play, Prosdocimo advises that Geronio be resolute.

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Prosdocimo goes and tells Fiorilla (who has her bags packed to leave) that Selim is reconciled with Zaida and is about to return to Turkey with her. Then a letter arrives for Fiorilla from Geronio announcing that she is barred from his house and should return to her family in Sorrento. Angered – but finally also shamed – Fiorilla abandons her fine clothes, anticipating the drab life ahead of her at her father and mother’s poor home (Squallida veste, e bruna). The poet is delighted at the change of heart he has brought about in her.Fiorilla rues the day that Selim’s ship arrived in the harbour. Geronio, who is looking on, follows the promptings of Prosdocimo, and husband and wife are reunited (Son la vita). The Turk takes fond leave of Italy with Zaida, Geronio forgives Narciso, and the poet is delighted to have concluded his plot to his own and, he trusts, the audience’s satisfaction. Everyone celebrates that a mistake is nothing if it leads to a deeper love.