Rossini's last ten years saw a return to composition, primarily with a series of pieces he called Péchés de vieillesse (Sins of Old Age).
Composer Biography
Gioachino Rossini, one of the most successful operatic composers of his time, was born in Pesaro in 1792.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The Péchés de vieillesse (Sins of Old Age) were sometimes based on earlier works, designed for informal Saturday evening performances, or simply written as the mood took him.
Composition History
The twelfth volume of the Péchés de vieillesse, titled Quelques riens pour album, contains 24 piano pieces and seems to date from after 1866.
Composer Biography
Rossini's parents were both musicians; his father was a brass-player and French horn teacher, and his mother was a singer.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Rossini dedicated his Péchés de vieillesse (Sins of Old Age) to 'pianists of the fourth class, to which I have the honour to belong,' despite his considerable piano abilities.
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