Rossini is mostly known today for his comic opera 'The Barber of Seville' and the much-played overtures from 'The Thieving Magpie' and 'William Tell', but his contribution to opera was much broader than that. A child musical prodigy, he was famous by age 20 and dominated the Italian opera scene in the early decades of the 19C, composing both comic and serious operas, the latter being rarely performed today. With audio and video excerpts from his operas, this course will chronicle Rossini's life and his influence over 19C opera and the 'bel canto' era.
Course aim
Rossini is known mainly for 'The Barber of Seville' and the overture to 'The Thieving Magpie'. But his operatic output was much more, including many serious operas. This course will present the full picture of Rossini and his creative genius.
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- This course is for beginners and improvers
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- List Rossini’s most popular comic operas
- List some of Rossini’s serious operas
- Identify some of Rossini’s non-operatic output, e.g. his cantatas
- Identify the three distinct phases of Rossini's operatic career
- Relate to Rossini’s stature and influence in 19C operatic life
What else do I need to know?
No prior knowledge is assumed, but listening to or watching any opera by Rossini would be good groundwork and should help to stimulate good questions and discussion.
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