The Thieving Magpie (album) The Thieving Magpie (album) The Thieving Magpie (La Gazza Ladra) is a double live album by the British neo-progressive rock band Marillion. It was named after the introductory piece of classical music the band used before coming on stage during the "Clutching at Straws" tour 1987–1988, the overture to Rossini's opera "La gazza ladra", which translates as "The Thieving Magpie". The album was released shortly after singer Fish's departure from the band (and before Steve Hogarth's arrival) and was intended to document the "Fish years". It complements the band's first live album "Real to Reel" insofar as there are no
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