La gazza ladra complete the composition of the opera. As such, "The Thieving Magpie" is best known for the overture, which is musically notable for its use of snare drums. The unique inspiration in the melodies is extreme, famously used to bizarre and dramatic effect in Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange". It was referenced by Haruki Murakami in his work "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.". This memorable section in Rossini's overture evokes the image of the opera's main subject: a devilishly clever, thieving magpie. The first performance of "The Thieving Magpie" was on 31 May 1817, at La Scala, Milan. In 1818, Rossini revised
La forza del destino (1867). Following these productions, Verdi made further, more extensive revisions to the opera with additions to the libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni. This version, which premiered at La Scala, Milan, on 27 February 1869, has become the standard performance version. The most important changes were a new overture (replacing a brief prelude); the addition of a final scene to Act 3, following the duel between Carlo and Alvaro; and a new ending, in which Alvaro remains alive, instead of throwing himself off a cliff to his death. The opera in this version is frequently performed in the world's opera houses today.