Gioacchino Rossini
Gioacchino Rossini
b. February 29, 1792 – d. November 13, 1868
A leap year baby! Born in the Italian city of Pesaro and known as “The Italian Mozart” he is one of my favorite composers. I am just nuts about his vocal compositions – just another of those little things Bart and I disagree on! Composer of 39 operas including Il barbiere di Siviglia, Il viaggio a Reims, La cenerentola, La scala di seta, Tancredi, La gazza ladra, Semiramide, Il turco in Italia, L’italiana in Algieri, La donna del lago, Maometto II, and more, he is also well known for his songs and religious works. His Péchés de vieillesse (Sins of Old Age) is a fourteen volume collection of solo piano music and compositions for voice with piano accompaniment. A most prolific composer he retired from the composition of opera at the age of thirty seven, some thirty nine years prior to his death. After his retirement he followed his second love, food, eventually moving to Paris where he died in 1868. In 1887 his remains were moved to the Basilica di Santa Croce, in Firenze. He is regarded as a master of opera buffa, and his operas and other vocal works remain in constant repertory.
Rossini is said to have described himself as a “third rate pianist, but the world’s greatest gastronome.” Remember Tournedos Rossini? Click here to see Chef Andre Soltner prepare this classic of French cuisine.
Check the links below to hear two of my favorite vocal artists sing his delightful music.
Click to hear Cecilia Bartoli sing three songs about the Venetian regata La regata Veneziana.
Click to hear Marilyn Horne sing Di tanti palpiti from his opera Tancredi.
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Friday, March 2nd 2012 at 12:23 am |
I’ve seen his house in Pesaro and heard quite a lot of his music (who hasn’t), but apart from that the subject matter Puccini remains to be investigated. Thanks for the reminder, Adri 🙂
Friday, March 2nd 2012 at 8:52 am |
Ciao Mette,
Well I am quite envious of you! I would love to see his home, and to go to the Rossini Festival in Pesaro. Perhaps we could see an Italian Notes post on the topic? Rossini’s output was truly prodigious, and I love it. Bart, on the other hand, finds his vocal music, well, not so enjoyable, complaining that it sounds like “a lot of scales” to him! He does however enjoy Rossini’s piano and chamber compositions. I find the sheer physical effort involved in singing Rossini positively stunning and invigorating. While some complain of “vocal gymnastics” and rather less artful singing than is required for other composers, with the possible exception of Vivaldi, I find Rossini’s work uplifting and transformational. There will be more to come on opera – and Puccini is on the way. What glorious music there too – positively iconic in the world of opera. Between Puccini’s female consumptive, Mimi and Verdi’s Violetta, the world has come to associate opera with moribund female lung patients who, despite their diminished vital capacity, are able to sing beautifully. Opera. Gotta love it.