Travel tips for opera lovers – Venice and Gioachino Rossini

Venice was the gateway for Rossini’s career. He arrived in Venice at the age of 18, wrote various comedic one-act operas for the smaller theater.

With the commissioned works for the Venetian Teatro San Moisè, Rossini developed at a breathtaking pace into a leading opera composer. In this renowned theater, for which Vivaldi had already written, he wrote several one-act operas in a short time. Even the first commissioned work (“La cambiale di matrimonio”), which a family friend had arranged for the 18-year-old, was a success. The overture of the one-act opera “Il signor Bruschino” achieved anecdotal fame, in which the second violins have to tap their bows rhythmically on their music stands several times, producing a charming effect. The upscale gentlemen at the music stands, however, were too embarrassed by this effect of the 18-year-old schnoz and refused to perform the tapping sounds, causing a considerable uproar.

At the age of 21 received a commission from the great Fenice and made his breakthrough with “Tancredi”, leaving the lagoon city for Naples.

There are not many traces of Rossini left in Venice, the Teatro San Moisè is demolished, the Teatro San Benedetto (the premiere theater of the “Italiana in Algeri“) has been a cinema for ages (Multisala Rossini), only the Fenice is still standing.