Gioachino Rosini Program Notes and Sheet Music

Gioachino Rossini (February 29, 1792 – November 13, 1868) was an Italian composer who gained fame for his 39 operas, although he also wrote many songs, some chamber music and piano pieces, and some sacred music. He set new standards for both comic and serious opera before retiring from large-scale composition while still in his thirties, at the height of his popularity.

Rossini was born in Pesaro, Italy, to a family of musicians. His father, Giuseppe, was a trumpeter, and his mother, Anna, was a singer. Rossini began composing at a young age, and he showed great talent for music. He studied at the Conservatorio di Bologna, where he was a student of the composer Giovanni Battista Martini.

Rossini's first opera, La cambiale di matrimonio (The Marriage Contract), was performed in Venice in 1810. The opera was a success, and it launched Rossini's career as a composer. Over the next 15 years, Rossini wrote a string of successful operas, including The Barber of Seville (1816), The Italian Girl in Algiers (1813), and Semiramide (1823).

In 1824, Rossini moved to Paris, where he continued to compose operas. His most famous opera from this period is William Tell (1829), which is known for its overture, which is one of the most famous pieces of classical music.

In 1832, Rossini retired from composing operas. He lived the rest of his life in retirement, enjoying his wealth and fame. He died in Passy, France, in 1868.

Rossini was a prolific and versatile composer. His operas are known for their beautiful melodies, their clever use of humor, and their dramatic intensity. Rossini's music had a profound influence on the development of opera, and he is considered one of the greatest opera composers of all time.

Rossini's music is still performed and enjoyed by audiences around the world. He is considered one of the greatest composers of all time, and his work continues to inspire and entertain.