Role

:

Composer Performer

Country

:

Italy

Birth

:

February 29, 1792 in Pesaro, Italy

Death

:

November 13, 1868 in Paris, France

Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Vocal

 

Gioachino Rossini was born on February 29, 1792, in Pesaro, Italy. His father, Giuseppe Rossini, was a trumpeter and horn player, and his mother, Anna Guidarini, was a singer. Rossini showed an early interest in music and began studying the piano and singing at a young age. At the age of 14, Rossini was sent to study at the Liceo Musicale in Bologna, where he studied under the composer Stanislao Mattei. He quickly became known for his talent as a composer and began writing operas while still a student. Rossini's first opera, "La cambiale di matrimonio," was performed in Venice in 1810, when he was just 18 years old. The opera was a success, and Rossini went on to write a number of other successful operas, including "L'italiana in Algeri" (1813), "Il barbiere di Siviglia" (1816), and "La Cenerentola" (1817). Rossini's operas were known for their lively and humorous music, as well as their memorable melodies. He was particularly skilled at writing for the voice, and his operas featured many virtuosic arias and duets. In addition to his operas, Rossini also wrote a number of other works, including chamber music, piano pieces, and sacred music. One of his most famous non-operatic works is the "William Tell Overture," which was written for his last opera, "Guillaume Tell" (1829). Despite his success as a composer, Rossini struggled with depression and anxiety throughout his life. He also suffered from health problems, including gout and obesity. In 1829, at the age of 37, he retired from composing operas and moved to Paris, where he lived for the rest of his life. In Paris, Rossini became a prominent figure in the city's musical and cultural scene. He continued to compose, but focused mainly on non-operatic works. He also became known for his wit and humor, and was a popular host of salons and dinner parties. Rossini died on November 13, 1868, at the age of 76. He was buried in the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. Today, Rossini is remembered as one of the greatest composers of Italian opera. His works continue to be performed and enjoyed around the world, and his influence can be heard in the music of many later composers.

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