Gioachino Rossini

The Profile

Gioachino Rossini (1792–1868) was an Italian composer from Pesaro and a leading figure of the bel canto era. He wrote 39 operas, including Il barbiere di Siviglia, La Cenerentola, Semiramide, and William Tell, plus sacred masterpieces like the Stabat Mater and Petite Messe solennelle.

Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia premiered at Rome’s Teatro Argentina on 20 February 1816 to an infamous fiasco, followed the next day by a triumph. Stendhal wrote a celebrated biography of Rossini (Vie de Rossini, 1823). By 1829 he had completed 39 operas in roughly two decades and was renowned for his brilliant overtures. He is often nicknamed “The Swan of Pesaro.”

Two upbeat reviews celebrate Rossini’s mastery of overtures and his knack for musical joy. One digs into Abbado’s 1972 Barber with an all-star cast; the other revels in a 2019 organ duo tackling famous Rossini overtures in a resonant church. The infamous 1816 Barber premiere fiasco (and immediate redemption) is recalled, alongside praise for The Thieving Magpie, Semiramide, and William Tell. Overall verdict: Rossini equals happiness.