The title of Volume VII, 'Album de chaumière' (The Cottage Album), is ironic, hinting at Romantic imagery that Rossini disliked.
Composition History
Rossini retired from opera at the age of 37 after his last opera, Guillaume Tell, premiered in 1829, and spent the next 39 years composing privately.
Performer Biography
Alessandro Marangoni, the pianist on this recording, graduated with honors in both piano performance and philosophy, with a thesis on Fernando Liuzzi's philosophy of music.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Rossini's 'Péchés de vieillesse' (Sins of Old Age) are described as 'miniature monstrum,' meaning a prodigy or marvel, designed to entertain with elegant, innocuous cynicism.
Composer Biography
Gioachino Rossini, born on February 29, 1792, often joked about his unusual birth date, claiming to be much younger than his actual age.
Recording & Production
This recording was made at the Auditorium di Mortara, Pavia, Italy, from October 29 to November 2, 2006, using a Steinway & Sons piano from the Angelo Fabbrini collection.
Compositional Technique
The 'Péchés de vieillesse' (Sins of Old Age) are arranged into fourteen volumes, with the first three for voice and piano, and the remaining ten for various instrumental combinations.
You might also enjoy...
Peterson-Berger: Complete Piano Music, Vol. 3
Mendelssohn
Heroica (Deluxe)
Field: Complete Nocturnes, Vol. 2
Martucci: Piano Works
Gounod & Compagnie: Pièces pour piano
Godowsky: Apostle of the Left Hand
Sounds for the Soul: Music to Help Overcome Cancer
Mendelssohn-Hensel, F.: Piano Sonatas in C and G minor
Bizet: The Piano Works
Gounod: Piano Works
Swedish Piano Romanticism
Mendelssohn-Hensel: Piano Sonata in G Minor / 6 Character Pieces
