Composers
Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868) is the musical genius who led Italian opera into the 19th century. His influence on the genre and his innovations are unmistakeable. Together with Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835) and Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848) he represents the large repertoire of romantic belcanto.
Departing from the Italian traditions of his well known predecessors Rossini, Bellini and Donizetti, Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) created an impressive repertoire. He brought the expressive possibilities of the voice to new heights, supported by a frequently somber but efficient orchestration.
The psychological depth of Verdi and the preference for realism which can be found in the work of Verdi, was pushed further by Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) with irrepressible, roaring melodies set to expressive orchestration. He described his concept very clearly: “Poetry, poetry, tasteful tenderness, sensuality, a drama full of glow that almost overwhelms you, and in the end, a rocket.”