Arias and Overtures

Symphonic Orchestra of Opera Ballet Vlaanderen conducted by maestro Alessandro Palumbo, spotlight the multifaceted genius of Italian opera composer Gioachino Rossini. Virtuosic and lyrical arias from masterpieces such as Il barbiere di Siviglia and La Cenerentola—his brilliant reimagining of the Cinderella tale—share the bill with La regata veneziana. These three canzonette, or songs, which Rossini composed after his operatic career for the salon, shine in a vibrant orchestral arrangement.

Ottorino Respighi also drew inspiration from Rossini’s Parisian salon music, compiled under the title Péchés de vieillesse. For his ballet score La Boutique fantasque, Respighi based himself on several of Rossini’s piano pieces. The highly inventive and refined overtures to the operas La gazza ladra and Guillaume Tell complete this musical portrait.