ROSSINI'S The Italian in Algiers, is nowadays represented only by its Overture, though when it came out (at Venice, in 1813) it seemed likely to have a long life, for it was full of the gayest, catchiest tunes, cleverly orchestrated.
The Overture opens with a slow Introduction, and then goes on its course with unquenchable vitality, making good use of that favourite Rossinian device of crescendo (a gradual, exciting increase of tone) that brought the Composer some satirical comment and the name of ' Signor Crescendo ,' when later he went to Paris.