NOTES ON THE PROGRAM
By Aaron Grad
Overture to Il barbiere di Siviglia 1816
GIOACHINO ROSSINI
Born February 29, 1792 in Pesaro, Italy
Died November 13, 1868 in Passy, France
Gioachino Rossini was the greatest opera composer of his gener-
arsa comica written at age 18 to his crowning
work for the stage, William Tell,
operas in 19 years. Then, at the height of his fame and creative
powers, Rossini withdrew almost entirely from composing, never
writing another opera in his remaining 40 years.
Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) takes its characters
from the same trilogy by the French playwright Beaumarchais
that also inspired Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro-
stallment of the comedic trilogy, the mischievous barber, Figaro,
helps the wealthy Count of Almaviva scheme to win over a beautiful
girl, Rosina, who is kept cloistered in her guardian’s house.
For the overture, Rossini recycled music that he had used in two
previous operas, both tragedies. The opening section, in a mild
Andante maestoso tempo, sets the stage with conversational exchanges
and a seductive melody over guitar-like plucks. The Allegro
vivo body of the overture introduces a distinctive minor-key motive
half-step in a nervous twitter.
Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35 1878
PYOTR IL’YICH TCHAIKOVSKY
Born May 7, 1840 in Kamsko-Votkinsk, Russia
Died November 6, 1893 in Saint Petersburg, Russia
After Tchaikovsky’s disastrous marriage and subsequent mental
breakdown in 1877, a visit to Switzerland that November did wonders
for his health and spirit. He returned the following March for another
CHARLESTON GAILLARD CENTER: 2018-2019 SEASON PROGRAM: SPRING | 61