Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868) was an Italian composer, best known for his 39 operas. His music can be characterised by its richly ornamented coloratura, and he was a true ambassador of the Bel Canto style. Browse our sheet music and scores, and explore the wide world of Gioachino Rossini with Stretta Music today!
His most famous operas include Il barbiere di Siviglia, The Barber of Seville, L’italiana in Algeri, The Italian in Algiers, and La Cenerentola, Cinderella, but even his less renowned operas including Il turco in Italia, The Turk in Italy, Il viaggio a Reims, The Journey to Reims, and La gazza ladra, The Thieving Magpie, are still regularly performed in opera houses around the world today. His last opera, Guillaume Tell is best known today for its overture, the extremely popular William Tell Overture.
In 1830, when his employer, King Charles X of France was forced to abdicate during the July Revolution, he was given a lifelong pension, and decided to devote himself entirely to his second passion, cooking. According to his wife, "The Maestro and I, we live to eat, and we fulfil this task conscientiously." The refined and rich cuisine of the Rossinis was soon known throughout Paris. After his death, Rossini was hailed as one of the pillars of French food culture. Today, Rossini lends his name to many delectable dishes, and the trademark of a good dish "à la Rossini", is a handsome dose of goose liver, and lots and lots of truffles.