Gioachino Rossini

The libretto a version of Pierre Beaumarchais' stage play Le Barbier de Séville was newly written by Cesare Sterbini and not the same as that already used by Giovanni Paisiello in his own Barbiere an opera which had enjoyed European popularity for more than a quarter of a century. Often transcribed for string orchestra these sonatas reveal the young composer's affinity for Haydn and Mozart already showing signs of operatic tendencies punctuated by frequent rhythmic changes and dominated by clear songlike melodies. Music

According to the Oxford History of Western Music "Rossini's fame surpassed that of any previous composer and so for a long time did the popularity of his works.

Gioachino Antonio Rossini (Italian pronunciation: [d͡ʒoaˈkiːno anˈtɔːnjo rosˈsiːni] (Giovacchino Antonio Rossini in the baptismal certificate) (29 February 1792 – 13 November 1868) was an Italian composer who wrote 39 operas as well as sacred music chamber music songs and some instrumental and piano pieces. His best-known operas include the Italian comedies Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) and La Cenerentola and the French-language epics Moïse et Pharaon and Guillaume Tell. A tendency for inspired song-like melodies is evident throughout his scores which led to the nickname "The Italian Mozart".