San Antonio College Library

I began the present book in the hope of writing a "life and works" that would both tell the story of Rossini's life and critically analyze his achievement. But I have had to abandon all description and analysis of scores not essential to the biography itself. Rossini lived seventy-six years and composed thirty-nine operas, two large nonoperatic works, and hundreds of small pieces. To have combined exegesis of the music with narration of his life story...

This series introduces, in words and music, the plot and background of the major operas. Using the principal themes and arias, taken from the Naxos recording of the complete work.

Studies the social, cultural, and political spheres that affected the lives and works of approximately 50 composers.