Product Review

Shot on location in Italy, this fascinating documentary tells the story of the greatest Italian opera composer of his day, author of the most popular of all comic operas, The Barber of Seville, a wealthy, successful, prolific composer, who, at the age of 37, suddenly gave up writing for the stage.

The programme asks why this happened: it explores the myth of Rossini's personality - bon viveur, man of the world, dilettante which he did as much as anyone else to create; it celebrates the music he wrote for the stage, for church, for singers and chamber groups, through film of the places in which he lived and worked, photographs, stage designs, his own voice and those of his contemporaries. It traces his life, set against the backdrop of the historical events taking place in Italy and through extensive performance excerpts from all his best-known operas as well as less famous works.

Voice of Rossini: BRIAN BLESSED

Voice of Stendhal: TIMOTHY BATESON

Featuring:

JOAN SUTHERLAND

CECILIA BARTOLI

JOHN RAWNSLEY

MARIA EWING

DELLA JONES

ALBERTO RINALDI

MAX-RENE COSOTTI

CLAUDIO DESDERI

ANNA CATERINA ANTONACCI

KATHLEEN KUHLMANN

Excerpts from:

La Cambiale di Matrimonio

La Scala di Seta

Il Signor Bruschino

Tancredi

L Italiana in Algieri

Elisabetta, Regina d Inghilterra

Il Barbiere di Siviglia

Messa di Gloria

La Cenerentola

Overture: La Gazza Ladra

Semiramide

Overture: Il Viaggio a Reims

Guillaume Tell

Stabat Mater

Petite Messe Solennelle