In the early 19th century, Gioachino Rossini's witty and energetic style redefined and dominated the grand tradition of Italian opera and his melodies have been immortal favorites ever since. The best themes from each opera are distilled in the overtures, themselves masterpieces of tuneful orchestral writing. Such evergreen as the overtures to William Tell (known to generations of listeners as the Lone Ranger's theme) and The Barber of Sevilleare conveyed here with contagiously joyous style by the eminent Italian conductor Claudio Abbado. His passionately persuasive performances even rescued some of Rossini's operas from undeserved obscurity.