The final quartet on this album, Quartet No. 4, concludes with a 'storm' movement, foreshadowing the operatic storms in Rossini's later works like 'The Barber of Seville' and 'Cinderella'.
Composer Biography
Gioachino Rossini, the composer, came from a musical family; his father was a horn player and his mother an opera singer.
Composition History
Rossini composed his 'Sei sonate a quattro' in three days at age 12, despite having no formal accompaniment lessons, and considered them 'horrible'.
Composition History
The exact instrumentation of Rossini's early works was unknown for over a century due to various published editions, until the original autograph was found after World War II.
Composer Biography
Rossini was admitted to the Accademia Filarmonica of Bologna at age 14, a special privilege previously granted only to Mozart in 1770.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Rossini admired Mozart throughout his life, stating that Mozart inspired admiration in his youth, despair in adulthood, and comfort in old age.
Composition History
Though known for opera, Rossini began his career composing chamber music, including the 'Sei sonate a quattro' for his friend Agostino Triossi, an amateur double-bass player.
