Live performance from the Schwetzinger Festspiele, 1987. At the age of 21, Italian composer Giacchino Rossini penned the masterful comic opera âLâItaliana in Algeriâ (âThe Italian Girl in Algiersâ) in less than a month. The composerâs youthful exuberance comes across in this infectious 1987 performance. Though sheâs known mainly for her Wagner roles, acclaimed German mezzo-soprano Doris Soffel shines in the title role of Isabella. Ralf Weikert conducts, and Mauro Pagano oversees sets and costumes.