Siege de Corinthe

Rossini adapted his own Italian opera of 1820, Maometto, for the Parisian stage under the title of Le Siege de Corinthe. As Rossini's original work had already absorbed distinctive French characteristics such as heroic arias, and characterization through orchestral color, the newly composed music for the reworking makes for a powerful and compelling operatic tour de force. With it's historical subject matter and tragic ending, Le Siege de Corinthe anticipates the advent of grand opera.