Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868) was an Italian composer known for his incredible output of successful operas. Born to a musical family, he showed talent from a young age. He studied composition, voice, and several instruments at the music conservatory in Bologna before moving to Venice to establish a career as an opera composer. He found success quickly through writing one-act comedic operas in Venice, as well as commissions for the Mombelli family. In 1813, he premiered his first serious opera, Tancredi, which was met with great acclaim. His operas became known for their colorful, florid melodies, large orchestration, and intense dynamics.

Due to his immense success in Venice, Rossini was offered a position as music director of the royal theaters in Naples in 1815. Over the course of the next eight years, Rossini would compose eighteen operas, including several collaborations with future wife, Soprano Isabella Colbran. In Rome in 1816, he premiered his masterpiece, Il barbiere di Siviglia. To this day, it remains one of the most successful and beloved comedic operas of all time. However, by 1823, the Naples audience had grown tired of Rossini’s works, and Colbran was no longer able to find as much work due to her failing voice. The couple ended their Italian opera career with the large-scale opera Semiramide (1823), and after a brief stint in London, settled in Paris.

Between 1824-29, Rossini composed numerous works for the Parisian stage. He adapted to the French style by incorporating more declamatory singing rather than ornate melodies, adding dance movements, and expanding the role of the chorus. His most enduring opera from this time was Guillame Tell. While the work was successful at the time, it has now risen to even more prominence. However, for unclear reasons, Rossini decided to retire from opera in 1829 at only thirty-seven years old.

While Rossini published a few pieces during his retirement, including Stabat Mater (1832) and Petite messe solennelle (1864), his output dwindled significantly. He separated from his wife in 1837, and after her death in 1845, married French courtesan Olympe Pélissier. They became important figures in Parisian social circles, hosting salons and dinner parties for important guests. Rossini composed for and performed at these gatherings, but most of these pieces were never released to the public. After a long and enjoyable retirement, Rossini died of cancer at the age of seventy-six in Paris. While he was initially mostly remembered for l barbiere di Siviglia and Guillame Tell, many of his other works have recently resurfaced, highlighting his remarkable talent and delightful music.