Gioacchino Rossini

L'Italiana in Algeri

Gioacchino Rossini was a musical prodigy, composing his first opera when he was eighteen years old. At the age of 37, after having written 39 operas in all, he almost completely stopped composing and devoted himself to the culinary art and the mysteries of wine! In his opera L'Italiana in Algeri, Rossini shows the difference in mentality between two countries on both sides of the Mediterranean, Turkey and Italy. The exotic themes and oriental sound colours of this opera have ensured that it is still loved today by a wide audience. This transcription for concert band retains the exotic and oriental feel of the original opera.