Everyone likes to play the crammed-with-notes Rossini overtures, but as a vehicle for flute choirs, the lack of tonal variation tends to make it more interesting for the players than the audience.  My answer is to pack all the good stuff into a smaller package.  The original overture is nearly 12 minutes long.  I’ve cut it in half—hence the name, “Semi”-ramide.   All the great flute and piccolo solos have been retained, but the interminable repetitive crescendo passages have been cut down to move the piece along.  It’s all the fun with only half the calories!