Aureliano in Palmira

Aureliano in Palmira is an opera by Gioachino Rossini, composed in 1814. It falls under the genre of opera seria, which was a dominant style of Italian opera in the 18th century. Opera seria emphasized solo vocal performances and the bel canto style, with a more limited role for the chorus and orchestra. The libretto typically featured characters from classical history or mythology, avoiding comic elements. While Aureliano in Palmira was not a success, Rossini used it to assert his authority over singers by prescribing and writing the ornaments for his arias.