~Gioacchino Rossini~

Born February 29, 1793 in Persaro, Italy

Died November 13, 1868 in Paris, France

Fun Facts

• Rossini grew up in a musical home. His father was a trumpet player and his mother was a minor opera singer.

• He attended Bologna Academy to study music and received his first commission to write music at the age of 18.

• Gioacchino Rossini wrote 40 operas from 1808-1829 and then he just stopped writing when he moved to Paris.

• Rossini’s style of writing captivated audiences and made other composers jealous. They referred to his music as slick.

• Some of Rossini’s most famous pieces include The Barber of Seville, Cinderella (La Cenerentola), the William Tell Overture and La Danza (Tarentella).

Learn more about Rossini on the 3rd grade webpage!

What is the Terentella? What does the word sound like? Find out on the 3rd grade website to see!

William Tell is one of Rossini’s most famous operas and its song Trumpet Fanfare has an unforgettable theme (the main idea of the song). Listen to the melody and see if you can figure out where you’ve heard it before. Listen to the fun version of trumpet fanfare I

have posted on third grade website and you never forget who wrote William Tell Again!

Rossini’s most famous opera is Cenerentola (Cinderella). Listen to the story and see if you can find any differences between the opera and Disney’s

classic Cinderella!

Characters

Cenerentola

Cenerentola is the orphaned step-daughter of the greedy Don Magnifico, and slave to him and his two spoilt daughters. Although she’s treated very cruelly, she’s still a very wise and spirited girl, and has a heart of gold.

Don Magnifico

Don Magnifico’s full name is actually, Don Magnifico di Monte Fiascone, which means Baron of the Magnificent Fiasco. His name tells us all we need to know about his character – he is a buffoon, and apart from his daughters, everyone makes fun of him. He was once a rich man, but he spent all his money, (and the money Cenerentola’s mother left her) on drink and a luxury lifestyle, so now he and his daughters are very poor...

Tisbe and Clorinda

Tisbe and Clorinda, the daughters of Don Magnifico, are vain and arrogant. All they care about is their appearance, clothes and marrying someone very rich. They can’t stand Cenerentola and treat her like a slave. Maybe they’re just jealous.

Don Ramiro

Don Ramiro is a prince who’s been away travelling. Now that he’s back, his dad, the king, has told him that unless he marries someone soon, he will forfeit his right to the throne. He sadly agrees to find someone, but being a romantic person, Ramiro hopes to find his true love. He disguises himself as his servant, Dandini, hoping to find someone who loves him for what he is, rather than for what he has.

Dandini

Dandini is the prince’s faithful servant, and as part of the prince’s plan to find a kind and honest bride, Dandini disguises himself as the prince for a large part of the opera. He supplies loads of the comedy as he struts around behaving like royalty, while being worshipped by the step sisters, but only because they really do think he’s the prince!

Alidoro

Alidoro is Prince Ramiro’s teacher. He wants to help the prince find a kind, honest woman to marry, so he disguises himself as a beggar, to test the kindness of Don Magnifico’s daughters. Alidoro takes the place of the fairy godmother. Using wisdom and intelligence instead of magic, he makes it possible for Cenerentola to attend the ball, which in the end, leads to her marrying the prince.

Watch clips of the opera on the 3rd grade webpage and listen to the famous aria Non Piu Mesta.