The music is remarkable for its freedom from the conventions utilized by Rossini in his earlier works, and marks a transitional stage in the history of opera.
In 1807, the young Rossini was admitted to the counterpoint class of Padre P. S. Mattei, and soon after to that of Cavedagni for the cello, at the Conservatorio of Bologna.
Rossini's father was sympathetic to the French, and welcomed Napoleon I of France's troops when they arrived in Northern Italy.
Between 1810 and 1813, at Bologna, Rome, Venice, and Milan, Rossini produced operas of varying success.
Gioacchino Antonio Rossini (February 29, 1792 – November 13, 1868) was an Italian musical composer who wrote more than 30 operas as well as sacred music and chamber music.
Conditions of stage production in 1817 are illustrated by Rossini’s acceptance of the subject of Cinderella for a libretto only on the condition that the supernatural element should be omitted.
At the age of 32, Rossini was able to go into semi-retirement with financial independence.
In 1822, four years after the production of this work, Rossini married singer Isabella Colbran.
Helmuth Rilling premiered the complete Messa per Rossini 1988 in Stuttgart.
Rossini continued to write operas for Venice and Milan during the next few years, but their reception was tame after the success of Tancredi.
Until the next year a Requiem for Rossini was compiled; however, this work was never performed at Verdi's lifetime.
Shortly after Rossini's death, Giuseppe Verdi suggested that all Italian musicians should assemble a Requiem in honor of the master opera composer and conductor and began the effort by submitting the "Libera me."
Rossini, who had been considering the subject of Faust for a new opera, returned, however, to Paris in the November of that year.
Rossini's parents began his musical training early, and by the age of six he was playing the triangle in his father's band.
Rossini was born into a family of musicians in Pesaro, a small town on the Adriatic coast of Italy.