Chapter I: Front Matter

ROSSINI AND HIS EARLY WORKS.

CHAPTER I.

ROSSINI'S YOUTH.

Pedigree and Arms--Rossini's First Work--Rondo Finale--Five Operas in one Year--Rossini and the Conscription--"Un Curioso Accidente"--The Mombelli Family--An Operatic Burlesque 9

CHAPTER II.

ITALIAN OPERA UNTIL "TANCREDI."

Rossini's Innovations--Rossini and an old Habitué--The Opera at Naples--Scarlatti and his School 27

CHAPTER III.

FOUR HISTORICAL OPERAS.

Pergolese and Gluck--Cimarosa and Paisiello 37

CHAPTER IV.

MOZART AND ROSSINI.

Mozart in Germany; and Abroad 43

CHAPTER V.

ROSSINI'S REFORMS IN SERIOUS OPERA.

The Basso Cantante--Overture to "Tancredi"--Rossini's Crescendo--"Di tanti palpiti" 48

CHAPTER VI.

ROSSINI'S REFORMS IN COMIC OPERA.

"L'Italiana in Algeri"--Anecdote of a Duet--Liveliness and Laziness 57

CHAPTER VII.

ROSSINI'S REFORMS IN WRITING FOR THE VOICE.

"Aureliano in Palmira"--The Sopranists--Porpora and Caffarelli--Rossini and Velluti--Vocal Embroidery--Singers and Composers--Change of System--A Royal Singing-master 64

CHAPTER VIII.

FROM MILAN TO NAPLES.

"Il Turco in Italia"--A Fiasco--The Opera at Rome--The Opera at Turin--Operatic Subventions--The Two-Act Division--Baldness of Rossini's Managers 81

PART II.

ROSSINI AT NAPLES.

CHAPTER I.

ROSSINI, BARBAJA, AND MDLLE. COLBRAN.

The Illustrious Barbaja--Mademoiselle Colbran--A Patriotic Hymn 99

CHAPTER II.

"ELISABETTA": ROSSINI'S DEBUT AT NAPLES.

"Elisabetta"--Accompaniment of Recitative 109

CHAPTER III.

ROSSINI VISITS ROME--"TORVALDO E DORLISKA."

Rossini's Barber 114

CHAPTER IV.

BEAUMARCHAIS, PAISIELLO, AND ROSSINI.

"Le Barbiere de Seville"--Beaumarchais' Preface--La Calunnia--Paisiello's "Barbiere" 117

CHAPTER V.

"THE BARBER OF SEVILLE."

Contract for the "Barber"--Rossini and the Music-Publishers--Getting to work--The Composer and the Librettist--Hard work--Preface to the "Barber" 127

CHAPTER VI.

"THE BARBER OF SEVILLE"--FIRST REPRESENTATION.

The Two Overtures--Madame Giorgi Righetti--Almaviva's Air--Trio of the Music-Lesson--Transpositions 141

CHAPTER VII.

"OTELLO": FURTHER REFORMS IN OPERA SERIA.

Cast of "Otello"--Davide--Progress of Instrumentation--The Clarinet--Brass Instruments--A Solo on the Kettledrum 152

CHAPTER VIII.

ROSSINI'S REPRODUCTIONS FROM HIMSELF.

Religious and Secular Music--Borrowed Pieces--Parts in "Il Barbiere"--"La Cenerentola" and "Il Barbiere" 165

CHAPTER IX.

"LA GAZZA LADRA": THE CONTRALTO VOICE.

The Magpie and the Trowel--Beethoven and Paer--Contralto parts--Overture to "La Gazza Ladra"--A Drum-hater--Operatic prayers 174

CHAPTER X.

"ARMIDA," "ADELAIDA," AND "ADINA."

"Adina," an Opera for Lisbon 187

CHAPTER XI.

"MOSÈ IN EGITTO": REFORMS IN OPERA SERIA.

Emancipation of the Serious Basso--Musical Fevers--Crossing the Red Sea--The Preghiera 190

CHAPTER XII.

THREE UNFAMILIAR WORKS.

"Ermione"--Memory of a Neapolitan Merchant--New Music and Old 200

CHAPTER XIII.

SACRED AND SECULAR SUBJECTS.

An Operatic Mass--Secular and Religious Music 206

CHAPTER XIV.

"LA DONNA DEL LAGO."

Operatic Subjects--Classical and Mythological Opera--Victor Hugo on the Libretto--New Combination--"Robert Bruce." 210

CHAPTER XV.

END OF ROSSINI'S ITALIAN CAREER.

Departure from Naples--"Matilda di Sabran"--Rossini's Marriage--Carpani and "Zelmira"--Madame Rossini--"Semiramide"--Farewell to the Italian Stage 222

PART III.

ROSSINI'S FRENCH CAREER.

CHAPTER I.

A VISIT TO LONDON--ROSSINI AND GEORGE IV.

A Successful Manager--Rossini's English Adapters--His Popularity in London--Rossini and George IV.--Concert at Almack's--Rossini on his stay in England--Art in London Drawing-rooms 239

CHAPTER II.

ROSSINI'S OPERA FOR THE KING'S THEATRE.

Operatic Management in England--The Missing Act 254

CHAPTER III.

ROSSINI IN PARIS.

Musical Feuds in Paris--Rossini in a Vaudeville--Berton and Paer--Boieldieu and the French Rossinists--Auber and Rossini's Music--"Art is lost" 261

CHAPTER IV.

ROSSINI AND HIS CRITICS.

"Signor Crescendo"--Paisiello's "Barbiere"--Curious instance of Antipathy 275

CHAPTER V.

ROSSINI AT THE ITALIAN OPERA OF PARIS.

Rossini and Paer--"Il Viaggio a Reims"--"Andiamo a Parigi"--Rossini and Bellini 282

CHAPTER VI.

ROSSINI AT THE ACADEMIE.

Rossini on "Ermione"--Italian Artists at the French Opera--"Le Siège de Corinthe"--Rossini's Profits as a Composer--"Moïse"--M. Scribe as a Librettist--The Royal Italian Opera 291

CHAPTER VII.

"GUILLAUME TELL."

The Libretto--Beauty of the Music--Avoidance of the "Cavatina"--Dramatic Effects peculiar to Operas 307

CHAPTER VIII.

ROSSINI AFTER "WILLIAM TELL."

Windmills and Wind--Industry and Idleness--Rossini's "Faust"--After "Guillaume Tell"--Rossini and M. Guizot 319

CHAPTER IX.

THE "STABAT MATER."

Rossini and Mendelssohn--Religious and Secular Styles--Heine on the "Stabat Mater"--Rossini's Mass--Three Masterpieces 332

LIFE OF ROSSINI.