Memoirs Of Rossini (1824)

by Stendhal

Book Overview

Memoirs of Rossini is a book written by the French author Stendhal in 1824. The book is a biography of the famous Italian composer Gioachino Rossini, who is known for his operas such as The Barber of Seville and William Tell. Stendhal, who was a friend of Rossini, provides an intimate portrait of the composer's life, including his childhood, his rise to fame, his personal relationships, and his creative process. The book also includes anecdotes about...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1166186245
• ISBN13: 9781166186241
• Release Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Kessinger Publishing
• Length: 332 Pages
• Weight: 0.98 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

stendhal and opera

An early work of Stendhal, who was an avid opera goer throughout his life. Opera music created a similar feeling to love in his soul. He preferred Italian opera and goes through a history of music in different European countries, including making sweeping generalizations about Italian and German music. He obviously favored Rossini and anything to do with Italian life and customs. His great sensibility made him a keen music critic and he makes surprisingly accurate comments. He reviews every single opera extensively. A great combination of a literary work and music history, and a good read for students of music and literature alike. A truly unique work as I do not know of many great novelists who dabbled in music as well. As with many other more modern writers, Stendhal is more interested in describing how the music made him feel, rather than a strict exegesis of the music itself.