Tuesday 11 December 2012
Tune of the Day: Overture to L'italiana in Algeri
by Gioachino Rossini, transcribed for solo flute
L'italiana in Algeri (The Italian Girl in Algiers), which became Rossini's first real smash in 1813, has maintained its place in the repertory not least because of its ever popular overture. This overture features a theatrically heavy slow introduction leading to a sudden loud burst of sound from the full orchestra, and then into an exciting Allegro. What is probably the most famous theme from the opera is found at measure 82 (3:05 in the sample recording).