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Sins of old age

When most composers retire, they retire for good. But in the final years of his life, something spurred Rossini to return. Presented by Donald Macleod

Rossini returns from retirement.

Gioachino Rossini, born in Italy in 1792, began writing music at the age of 12. His first opera was performed when he was 18, and he wrote 37 more in the span of 20 years. Then, at the peak of his fame, the composer suddenly disappeared from the public eye. What led him to this moment? This week, Donald Macleod traces Rossini's career, from his humble beginnings as the son of a horn player, learning to write music in order to support his family, to travelling the world and rubbing shoulders with royalty. We'll hear the truth behind his mysterious retirement and discover what made him return to composing, at the very end of his life.

When most composers retire, they retire for good, disappearing off the face of the earth to enjoy their earnings in peace. But in the final years of his life, something spurred Rossini to return. In today's programme, Donald finds Rossini back in Paris, re-inspired.

Musique anodine
Prelude; N.I
Suze van Grootel, soprano
Silvia Tro Santafé, mezzo-soprano
Jorge Perdigón, tenor
Ramón de Andrés, baritone
Julian Reynolds, piano

Musique anodine
N. II; N. III; N. IIII; N. IIIII; N. IIIIII
Suze van Grootel, soprano
Silvia Tro Santafé, mezzo-soprano
Jorge Perdigón, tenor
Ramón de Andrés, baritone
Julian Reynolds, piano

Péchés de vieillesse
IX. Album pour piano, violon, violoncello, harmonium et cor
Bruno Taddia, baritone
Lilly Jørstad, mezzo-soprano
Massimo Quarta, violin
Alessandro Marangoni, piano, harmonium
Enrico Dindo, cello
Marco Berrini, bells
Ugo Favaro, horn
Ars Cantica Choir

Petite messe solennelle
I. Kyrie; XVIII. Agnus Dei
Krassimira Stoyanova, soprano
Birgit Remmert, alto
Steve Davislim, tenor
Hanno Müller-Brachmann, bass
RIAS Kammerchor
Marcus Creed, conductor

59 minutes

Last on

Fri 9 Jun 2023 12:00

Music Played

  • Gioachino Rossini

    Musique anodine (Prelude; No 1)

    Performer: Julian Reynolds. Singer: Suze van Grootel. Singer: Silvia Tro Santafé.
    • GLOBE : GLO-6050.
    • GLOBE.
    • 15.
  • Gioachino Rossini

    Musique anodine (Nos 2-6)

    Performer: Julian Reynolds. Singer: Suze van Grootel. Singer: Silvia Tro Santafé. Singer: Jorge Perdigón. Singer: Ramón de Andrés.
    • GLOBE : GLO-6050.
    • GLOBE.
    • 16.
  • Gioachino Rossini

    Péchés de vieillesse Vol 9 (Un mot a paganini)

    Performer: Massimo Quarta. Performer: Alessandro Marangoni.
    • NAXOS : 8.-573822.
    • NAXOS.
    • 1.
  • Gioachino Rossini

    Péchés de vieillesse Vol 9 (No 8, Prelude, Theme and Variations)

    Performer: Ugo Favaro. Performer: Alessandro Marangoni.
    • NAXOS : 8.-573822.
    • NAXOS.
    • 9.
  • Gioachino Rossini

    Petite messe solennelle (Kyrie & Angus Dei)

    Singer: Krassimira Stoyanova. Singer: Birgit Remmert. Singer: Steve Davislim. Singer: Hanno Müller‐Brachmann. Choir: RIAS Chamber Choir. Conductor: Marcus Creed.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI : HMC-901724.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • 1.

Broadcast

  • Fri 9 Jun 2023 12:00

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