Fra Diavolo

French composer Daniel François Esprit Aubers extensive outputconsisted mainly of operas, but unfortunately today only two of theseare still well known, including the comic opera Fra Diavolo. The storyconcerns Fra Diavolo, a famous Italian bandit and soldier from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and is one of crime, lust and treachery. The overture has a classical structure filled with striking themes and motifs with a particularly unusual introduction (for the time) with the snare drum taking the leading role!