French overture
The orchestra has also provided an instrumental overture before the singers come onstage since the 1600s. Peri's "Euridice" opens with a brief instrumental ritornello, and Monteverdi's "L'Orfeo" (1607) opens with a toccata, in this case a fanfare for muted trumpets. The French overture as found in Jean-Baptiste Lully's operas consist of a slow introduction in a marked "dotted rhythm", followed by a lively movement in fugato style. The overture was frequently followed by a series of dance tunes before the curtain rose. This overture style was also used in English opera, most notably in Henry Purcell's "Dido and Aeneas". Handel also uses the French overture form in some of his Italian operas such as Giulio Cesare.