First heard with the premiere of the opera on May 22, 1813 in Venice at the Teatro San Benedetto, Rossini's overture grew in popularity as rapidly as the opera - a staple of the repertoire since the beginning. As with the other overtures, this one has not been treated very well by publishers over the decades. Part of the problem stems from the composer's own manuscripts which were the product of rapid composing under pressure from opera houses. Many things which were simply assumed by performers of the era from their first appearance and applied to analogous passages weren't by those of later eras. This superb performing edition prepared by Clark McAlister was issued in large score and parts by the now defunct publisher E.F. Kalmus. Serenissima is now the exclusive publisher Dr. McAlister's outstanding catalogue of orchestrations and editions.
