Born in Pesaro on February 29, 1792;
died in Paris on November 13, 1868

The son of musicians, he studied singing and harmony in Bologna and by the age of 21 had already had 10 of his operas performed.

The 1813 premiere of Tancredi in Venice established his reputation in the world of Italian opera for years to come. The Barber of Seville and Otello followed in 1816, with La Cenerentola and Armide following in swift succession. Settling in Paris in 1824, Rossini was appointed head of the Théâtre Italien, then First Composer to the King and General Inspector of singing in France. His final opera, Guillaume Tell, which appeared at the Opéra national de Paris in 1829, was a raging success.

From 1836 to 1848, he lived in Italy before settling permanently in France, where he continued to compose chamber works and occasional pieces. He died in Passy in 1868.