Which Gioachino Rossini operas helped establish French grand opera?

During his time in Paris, Gioachino Rossini sought to move away from the artificiality of florid bel canto toward a style characterized by truth, intensity, and declamatory singing, which helped shape the development of French grand opera.1

Key works that contributed to this evolution include:

• Le Siège de Corinthe (1826): A revision of his earlier Maometto II, this work marked a significant shift as Rossini reformed the orchestra and increased the importance of the chorus.1
• Moïse (1827): Following Le Siège de Corinthe, this opera furthered his transition toward the grander, more dramatic style.1
• Guillaume Tell (1829): Rossini’s final opera is considered a major contribution to the genre. Like Daniel-François-Esprit Auber’s La Muette de Portici, it is a large-scale work centered on themes of rebellion and liberty, utilizing the elaborate spectacle and dramatic weight that defined French grand opera.12

While Rossini was a pivotal figure in this transition, the genre was also heavily influenced by other expatriates, most notably Giacomo Meyerbeer, who became the acknowledged leader of the style.2