Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)

What we already knew about Rossini:

He was born into an Italian music family (father was a horn player and mother was a singer) in the late 18th century. Right away little Rossini was thrown into the world of music. He learned harpsichord and couterpoint among many other things. At a very young age, Rossini went off to the Conservatory of Bologna. Early on, at least by the age of 18, Rossini began writing operas and they were well-liked. Tancerdi, written in 1813, was a huge hit. The opera is pretty much about forbidden love. At the end of a war between families, the father of one family offers the hand of his daughter to the other family but unbeknownst to either family she is secret engaged to Tancerdi, some soldier. And ofcourse, chaos insues and people die. The daughter is put in prison because she's a bad girl and Tancredi rushes off to a battle and is slain. And the daughter is married off to the other family. (Copy of the score http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/variations/scores/bhr1017/index.html) After Tancredi, Rossini continued to work and was hired as a musical director for two different theaters in Italy. He was paid well and in addition to his duties as director he was also required to produce at least one opera per year. His next huge success was in 1816, when Rossini completed the opera buffa The Barber of Seville. Opera buffa made it's way into opera permanently and in the ensuing years Rossini continued in his success and composed twenty more operas, concluding with William Tell. Ofcourse, Rossini composed in plenty of other genres other than opera such as sacred and chamber music, vocal music, cantatas and instrumental music.

What you didn't know:

At the age of 6 he played triangle in his daddy's band.
His daddy was a rebel and was sent to jail for welcoming Napolean when he invaded Italy back along time ago.
Was nicknamed "Monsier Crescendo" and "The Little German"
Could have retired when he was 32 years old. I think he kept composing till the end though...
He was quite a handful as a child.

Interesting links:
http://www.rossinioperafestival.it/
http://www.conservatoriorossini.it/default0.aspx
http://www.allposters.com/-st/Gioachino-Rossini-Posters_c1598_s53269_.htm