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
Aureliano in Palmira Rossini in "Elisabetta, regina d'Inghilterra" and in "The Barber of Seville". It premiered at La Scala in Milan on 26 December 1813. 19th century "Aureliano in Palmira" was Rossini's second commission from La Scala. It opened the theatre's Carnival season with the famed castrato, Giovanni Battista Velluti as Arsace. It was the only role that Rossini wrote for the castrato voice. Rossini had originally written the role of Aureliano for Giovanni David, one of the most renowned tenors of the day. However, throat problems during rehearsals led David to withdraw from the production, and Luigi Mari took his place. The