GIOACHINO ANTONIO ROSSINI

A SHORT BIOGRAPHY

He was born on February 29, 1792 in the port city of Pesaro, Italy. His father was a talented trumpet & horn player and he was also the town crier.

His mother was a daughter of a baker, but also an artistic singer. She supplemented the family income by singing opera engagements. Young Gioachino was exposed to many operatic works at a very young age. He was taught to play horn by his father and was also taught to sing. He made his first stage debut in an opera at age 7.

By age 15, he was seriously studying music and wrote his first symphony at age 17. In the next several years he wrote three operas--none that were great, but they were at least promising. When he was 23, he met and married a singer Isabelle Colbran (who was 30 at the time). They traveled all over Italy performing. By now, Rossini had acquired quite a reputation as a musician and composer.

In Rome, Rossini was commissioned (paid to write a piece) to write two operas for the carnival season. The first work was produced on Dec. 20, 1815 and the second opera (first act) was due in less than a month on Jan. 20th. The second opera was "THE BARBER OF SEVILLE", which he finished in only 13 days. During that time he barely slept and ate, spending all his efforts on composing.

The first performance of "BARBER" was disastrous. Hecklers from all over the city seemed to be at this performance and whistled and hissed at every opportunity. The result was a complete fiasco. However, the second and third performances were a different story. Both were well attended and received rave reviews.

After world-wide success of "Barber" Rossini and wife traveled to England and France, playing for soirees (private parties) and taking various commissions. In 5 months, the Rossini's made almost $35,000.00. Rossini liked to complain that he made more as an accompanist for his wife than he did as a composer. The next 40 years were split between Paris, France and Bologna, Italy. He died in a small town near Paris on November 13, 1868.

Rossini's standing among the world's composers has been very much debated. The melodic and fanciful frills of his music have been used as arguments against classing him with composers such as Mozart (whom he greatly admired) and Beethoven, to whom was accredited the statement that Rossini's music was "degrading the art...with a negligence bordering on frivolity". Critics do point out that as a result of his residence in France, his style greatly improved as exemplified in WILLIAM TELL.

Rossini contributions to the Opera genre introduced several innovations. He substituted singing for the endless recitatives. He followed Mozart's lead and gave bass singers leading roles (basses should be eternally grateful). He wrote most of the prima donna roles for Mezzos or contraltos and he wrote his own embellishments to his arias, insisting the singers sing the written notes and not cadenza of their own choosing, which was contrary to practice in Italy at the time.