Gioachino Rossini (1792–1868) was an Italian composer known for his 39 operas, although he also wrote many songs, some chamber music and piano pieces, and some sacred music. In the period 1810–1823 he wrote his most popular works including the comic operas L'italiana in Algeri, Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) and La Cenerentola, building on the traditions of masters such as Domenico Cimarosa. He also composed opera seria works such as Otello, Tancredi and Semiramide. All of these show innovation in melody, harmonic and instrumental colour, and dramatic form. In 1824 he was contracted by the Opéra in Paris, for which he produced an opera to celebrate the coronation of Charles X, Il viaggio a Reims, later cannibalized for Le comte Ory, and in 1829 his last opera, Guillaume Tell (William Tell). He retired from large-scale composition while still in his thirties, at the height of his popularity.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gioachino_Rossini
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1805:
Napoleonic Wars: A Franco-Spanish fleet recaptured British-held Diamond Rock, an uninhabited island at the entrance to the bay leading to Fort-de-France. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Diamond_Rock
1919:
First Red Scare: Anarchist followers of Luigi Galleani set off eight bombs in eight cities across the United States. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1919_United_States_anarchist_bombings
1967:
German university student Benno Ohnesorg was killed during a protest in West Berlin against the visit of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi of Iran, sparking the formation of the militant group 2 June Movement. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2_June_Movement
1994:
The Royal Air Force suffered its worst peacetime disaster when a Chinook helicopter crashed on the Mull of Kintyre, Scotland, killing all 29 people on board. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_Scotland_RAF_Chinook_crash
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
rubicon: 1. A limit that when exceeded, or an action that when taken, cannot be reversed. 2. (card games) Especially in bezique and piquet: a score which, if not achieved by a losing player, increases the player's penalty. 3. (transitive, card games) Especially in bezique and piquet: to defeat a player who has not achieved the rubicon. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rubicon
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
If all hearts were open and all desires known — as they would be if people showed their souls — how many gapings, sighings, clenched fists, knotted brows, broad grins, and red eyes should we see in the market-place! --Thomas Hardy https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Thomas_Hardy