One of the most beloved classical overtures ever composed is this Overture to An Italian in Algiers by Gioacchino Rossini. Written in 1813, along with The Barber of Seville (1816) and La Cenerentola (1817), these operas form the pinnacle of the opera buffa (comic opera) genre. It was completed when Rossini was only 21 years old, and there are claims that it took him only 18 days to compose the entire opera (although some sources indicate it took 27 days). An incredible feat either way, it was premiered on May 22, 1813 to rave reviews and has been frequently performed around the world ever since. It has been arranged for clarinet choir by Matt Johnston with optional percussion parts included.

Instrumentation:

• E-Flat Clarinet
• 4 B-Flat Clarinets
• Alto Clarinet/Basset Horn/Clarinet 5
• Bass Clarinet
• Contrabass Clarinet/Contralto/String Bass

Optional Percussion:

• Timpani
• Bass Drum, Cymbals, Triangle (2 players)