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Introduction

Gioacchino Rossini was a celebrated Italian composer of opera and considered among the greatest masters of the genre. The extroverted style of Rossini's characterization and orchestral writing is still uplifting today. His opera is still heard today and considered the measure of quality for opera in the world.


Historical Context

Gioacchino Rossini was born on February 29th, 1792. His mother was a singer and his father was the town butcher. Rossini grew up loving opera and he sang in his first at the age of 11. He tried to compose an opera at the age of 12, but it was not very good. As soon as he moved to Bologna, his operas began to become more mature and more appreciated. These include The Italian Girl, The Turk in Italy and his most famous The Barber of Seville. He composed at an extraordinary rate. He composed approximately four large-scale operas every year for about five years.

These compositions made him very famous. The heads of many states including Sweden and Turkey sent him lavishing gifts and treated him like musical royalty. He totaled 38 operas by the end of his career and was without a doubt the leading opera composer of the 19th century. His music is often described as "bel canto" which means beautiful singing. His art laid in making entertaining beautiful pieces of music. He died on November 13th, 1868.


His Famous Compositions

His notable pieces are any of his operas. The two most noteworthy would be The Barber of Seville and The Thieving Magpie. Others are William Tell, The Silken Ladder and Semiramide. Rossini even wrote an opera in atonement for the sins he had committed during his life. It was entitled Petite Messe Solonelle. He attached to the score a letter stating, "Here is my poor little Mass done with a little skill, a bit of heart and that's about it. Be Thou blessed, and admit me to paradise." That is truly a valiant effort.



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