La gazza ladra

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La gazza ladra (The Thieving Magpie) is an opera by Gioacchino Rossini. It was written in 1817, and its overture, which is particularly well-known, is notable for its use of snare drums. Although the opera is not one of Rossini's best known, it still contains some of the great composer's most spectacular music. The soprano aria "Di piacer mi balza cor" and the tenor aria "Vieni fra queste braccia" (it's very interesting that the cabaletta for the duet between Arturo and Elvira from Bellini's I Puritani starts with the exact same words) are two examples of Rossini's brilliant vocal writing. The opera is also noted for the way it starts in a light style, getting more serious towards the Act II Finale. The most famous aria in the opera is probably Ninetta's prayer "Deh, tu reggi in tal momento".

[edit] Characters

Fabrizio Vongradito, a rich farmer (bass)
Lucia, his wife (mezzo-soprano)
Giannetto, his son, a soldier (tenor)
Ninetta, a servant in their house (soprano)
Fernando Villabella, her father, a soldier (baritone)
Gottardo, village mayor (bass)
Pippo, a young peasant, employed by Fabrizio (contralto)
Isacco, a pedlar (tenor)
Antonio, the gaoler (tenor)
Giorgio, servant to the mayor (bass)
Ernesto, friend of Fernando, a soldier (bass)
Magpie (usually performed by a dancer)

[edit] Synopsis

Ninetta hopes to marry Giannetto, returning from the war. She tries to shelter her father Fernando Villabella, who has deserted from the army, and is troubled by the attentions of the mayor, Gottardo. A missing spoon and the evidence of Isacco, the pedlar, who has bought a piece of silver from Ninetta to raise money for her father, lead to her accusation and imprisonment. She is tried and found guilty, to be saved from death at the last minute by the discovery of the thief, the thieving magpie of the title.

Rossini is famous for his writing speed, and La gazza ladra is no different. It is reported that the producer had to lock Rossini in a room the day before the first performance in order to write the overture. Rossini then threw each sheet out of the window to his copyists, who wrote out the full orchestral parts. This overture, beginning and ending in E major, though passing through G major, makes a few appearances in Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange, and has also provided the background score for many television, radio commercials and was the introductory music used by Marillion for their live shows in the mid 1980s.

[edit] Trivia

The overture is often used in movies during times of mischief, including but not limited to:

A Clockwork Orange, in which Alex and his droogs witness another gang preparing to rape a woman, and then engage in a fight with the gang.

Once Upon a Time in America in which the main characters switch babies

In the opening chapter of The Wind-up Bird Chronicle, Toru whistles the tune while making pasta. Later, a waiter whistles the tune distinctively well.

In The Brothers Grimm a gentle harp and flute version of the overture is played as the General drinks wine during the burning of the forest.

La gazza ladra was also used by the British band Marillion as their opening tune during the Clutching at Straws tour 1987-88 and on the 2006 solo tour of the band's former singer Fish.

The piece was used in an advert (called "Paint") directed by Jonathan Glazer, first shown in October 2006, for Sony's "BRAVIA" range of high-definition television sets. The advert features spectacular paint explosions in various colours. Watch it here.

The piece was also briefly used at the end of an advert (called "Revenge") for Martini Asti Spumante starring George Clooney and directed by Zack Snyder. In order to end a noisy party, upset neighbour Clooney changes the music from KC & The Sunshine Band's "I'm Your Boogie Man" to the Rossini ouverture. Watch it here.