This recording of L'occasione fa il ladro was made live at the Kursaal, Bad Wildbad, Germany, in July 2005 for the 17th ROSSINI IN WILDBAD Festival.
Critical Reception
At its premiere, L'occasione fa il ladro did not achieve the same success as Rossini's previous works, with critics noting the rushed composition time.
Compositional Technique
Instead of a traditional overture, Rossini began L'occasione fa il ladro with an instrumental curtain-raiser that leads directly into the first number, reusing storm music from an earlier opera.
Composition History
Rossini was contractually bound to write three farse (one-act comic operas) for the Teatro San Moisè in Venice after the success of his previous work there.
Composer Biography
Antonino Fogliani, the conductor of this recording, has directed several Rossini operas for the Rossini in Wildbad festival, including L'occasione fa il ladro.
Compositional Technique
Rossini delegated the writing of all recitatives in L'occasione fa il ladro to a colleague, a practice he began due to illness during an earlier opera.
Composition History
Rossini composed L'occasione fa il ladro (Opportunity Makes A Thief) in just eleven days to fulfill a contractual obligation.
