Litchfield enquirer., 1868-11-26
WHOLE NO. se21

The course of study was severe and emf.
 nently dlstasteful to Rossini, whose ims0.
 ination rose above the trammels of fuoue
 and canon. Having heard his master Pa.
 dre Mattei; one day observe that knowl- edge of simple counterpoint was sufficient
 for ordinary stage composition, he forth with determined to forsake the study of the severely classical and undertake the practice of the lighter and more congenial
 muse. He left the school. determined to be a composer of operas, when he had ac- quired just enough of the science of har-
 mony to enable him to enter upon that vo-
 cation. But it was not to escape study
 that he withdrew from the lyceum, but to exchange one distasteful for one to which
 he could gladly devote his energies; for he
 now studied day and night the works of
 the already famous opera writers, German
 as well as Italian, finding in Mozart, espec-
 ially, the greatest delight. At eighteen
 years of age Rossini, having tried his hand
 at some minor pieces, produced his first dramatic work, ''La Gambiale ali matrimo-
 nio, and when he was two years older five 1 operas had been written. These were his
 strivings merely, and not his successes. They are now sunk out of sight. But be- fore he reached the age of twenty three he had given the Venetians ''Tancredi"-as well as several others--which was received with enthusiasm almost without 8 parallel in the history of music, and with in three years 1t had found it's way into ev- cry musical theatre ill the world. In the same year he produced his ''Italiana in AL gerla, following these quickly with others and h 1916 with his ever lively and pi- quant ''Barbiere di Siviglia." This latter was written for Roman theatre, while Ire
 held an eng engagemlGfsgtt s 5lfs was &i1tten in e;ebt Jays "Otello," 'Cenerentola ana ..f, ,a Gazza Ladra' were written Tn I9toIt.'
 in 1893 he took leave of the Atanan s'nr "tnaa a with s'Semiramide'' The same year
 'a 2oarried Madame Colbran, Q pr,ma oon.
 no ot h,s Naples theatre, and With ner weLs
 Io England, where, though Wlthou' n oon-
 attention to business, he acqoiteo T ha siderable amount of money, "lVn "nl +ho
 Irent to Paris in 1880 as director oA no. vmS
 ftalian opera. In that position ne n0 ;n'
 nrofted pecuniarily, though WiCnounU .n 1aoq
 crease of professional celeorlty unO.. ;odn.
 when he made ample amends loi aI "Gu;l. lance by producing the lmnoi: :" sor;ons
 laume Tell, his masterpiece Al
 composition. .,, H.. ovoontion of his
 ..Staha+ Mater" for many years ne wLo.e t", } ,otbino. holding the office or 19speo'GG
 noSulg' naraI of singing under Charles 4 pesl 1ss ,e was cut off by the revolution. ID po,dao 1oO . ,a o ratired to an elegant villa near Do ,otts l. whence he visited Paris yearly .,a 1 Trenc ,s' Tears were spent chiefly in d the hsnsalf siGuS ,f senifaI ni where he distinguished nimsen Nn;r' l. o'' inve of mild pleasures and gooo n,;ne' ,; Q u;o ;o oJonins. amiabiIity, wit ana emin. il lnc;sI rlls qualities have made him honot' ot' ne and and liked by all, all; His reeep.l0ns' ny, '1 Wo VII ranK nIgh in literature, science, 'ts and society. His ample fortune acqulI elk through his genius, afforded him oppor Ter nity of gratifying his tastes eand preiere n- ces. and enabled him to live as an oid m mt q life suited to his equable' ngnt ac- cheerful disposition. Adelina Patti 'm his especial protege, and among the lat Ter productions of hls pen were new caden he for her voice ill some favorlte roies
 7d- Rossini leaves the world some forty 'n' eras, macy of which the world has a'rea in forgotten, but some of wnlcn It will ne ge; lose. the devotionally operatlc sta ln- Mater" besides cantatas, hymns ana the vocal and instrumental pieces. There Ter, also a story that, like Meyerbeer, he iet lh- posthumous opera.