Gioacchino Antonio Rossini

Gioacchino Antonio Rossini was born in 1792 in Pesaro, Italy. His parents were both musicians, his father "Giuseppe" was a horn player and his mother "Anna" a singer. During his boyhood he learnt the horn and singing. When he was six he played the triangle in his father's band. He trained at the "Conservatorio de Bologna" learning the cello, although it was said that he was very lazy with his studies.

His first opera was composed when he was just 14 years old, and was called "Demetrio e Polibio". In 1813 he wrote a serious opera called "Tancredi" and a comic opera called "L'italiana in Algeri", both operas were not very successful in Milan. His most famous opera "Il barbiere di Siviglia" composed in 1816, was a comic masterpiece, although at the time it was seen as a failure. The main character "Figaro", also appeared in Mozart's opera ""Le Nozze di Figaro" 30 years earlier. His last opera was "Guillaume Tell (William Tell)", composed when he was 37 years old. It has one of the most famous tunes, and can be heard in TV adverts and films.

After his last opera he mainly wrote music for piano, composed songs and church music. He lived his last years in Paris, France where he died in 1868. He his now renowned for his great comic operas.