By Tiger Hashimoto [S. F. Examiner, 11 September 2005]

A famous French actor was quoted on his deathbed: "Tragedy is easy; comedy is hard." Which possibly explains why San Francisco Opera has not been very amusing for the last four years.

All was rectified Saturday night at the War Memorial Opera House when the company unveiled only its second production ever of Gioachino Rossini's tart little satire, "L'Italiana in Algeri" (The Italian Girl in Algiers).