3544 Rossini

FROM ROSSI TO ROSSINI-----------------

Another famous Marche son was Gioacchino Rossini. Born in Pesaro 29th Feb. 1792 died in France 1868.
Many would have him born in Lugo di Ravenna but infact Pesaro has claimed the title and you can visit his birthplace now a museum.

His most famous comic operas are Barber of Seville ,Cinderella, Italian in Algiers, The Silken Ladder and of course everyone knows the famous overture to The Thieving Magpie.
The stunningly beautiful and moving Stabat Mater dates from his Paris period and is still performed each year at the ROF (Rossini Opera Festival) held each year in his honour.

The ROF 2006 will take place from 7-21 August and is a stage for his lesser known operas. This year will feature Torvaldo and Dorliska and La cambiale di matrimonio. Anyone ever heard of them??
Visitors and Rossini fans from all over the world flock to Pesaro for this annual event in honour of her most famous son.

The local music conservatorio and also the theatre bears his name.

Rossini's music is very frivolous in nature and whilst I enjoy listening to it, he is not Mozart!!!!
At the age of 6 Rossini played triangle in his father's band.
Mozart was already composing and performing in the major European courts at this age!!!

However, Rock on Rossini ------- another Marche genius .

Category
Do & See

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 05/05/2006 - 13:26

We saw the Barber of Seville just before Christmas and I liked it alot... Had so far mainly seen Mozart operas so this was a pleasant change.

As it was my first visit to the opera in all my 9 years in the UK, I was quite surprised about the surtitles. :)

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 05/05/2006 - 14:51

Now I want to know all about the famous Macerata open air opera festival, which I keep meaning to attend, but haven't succeeded so far!
I imagine Rossini features in many of these performances. Tell all, and persuade me it is unmissable!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 05/05/2006 - 16:56

Relaxed, yes The Macerata Opera Festival is well worth a visit.
The Operas are performed in the wonderful Sferisterio Arena in the centre of Macerata.
The sferisterio was built at the start of the 1900's by wealthy maceratesi as a stadium for sport and cultural activities.
The first opera performed there was Bellini's Norma in 1914. Verdi's Aidi in 1921 really put the arena on the map for large scale opera productions.
The sferisterio was also used as a stadium for the ball game called palla col bracciale----a forerunner of modern football.
The Opera Season takes place during the peak Summer months and this years cartellone sees productions of Mozart's Magic Flute-Verdi's Aida and Puccini's Turandot.
A wonderful summers evening with a bottle of wine under the stars and the high class productions of the operas before you.
Not to be missed.
Music in Le Marche can hold its own with the worlds greatest.