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At the height of his fame, Rossini showed no sign of slowing down - until he did. Why did the prolific composer suddenly retire?

Gioachino Rossini, born in Italy in 1792, began writing music at the age of 12. His first opera was performed when he was 18, and he wrote 37 more in the span of 20 years. Then, at the peak of his fame, the composer suddenly disappeared from the public eye. What led him to this moment? This week, Donald Macleod traces Rossini's career, from his humble beginnings as the son of a horn player, learning to write music in order to support his family, to travelling the world and rubbing shoulders with royalty. We'll hear the truth behind his mysterious retirement and discover what made him return to composing, at the very end of his life.

In today's programme, Donald discovers what drove Rossini to suddenly put down his composer's quill, and we meet the woman who may as well have saved his life...

Guillaume Tell
Overture
New York Philharmonic
Leonard Bernstein, conductor

Soirées Musicales
I. La promessa; II. Il rimprovero; VI. La pastorella dell’Alpi
Miah Persson, soprano
Stella Doufexis, soprano
Bruce Ford, tenor
Roger Vignoles, piano

Soirées Musicales
X. La pesca; IX. La regata veneziana
Miah Persson, soprano
Stella Doufexis, soprano
Bruce Ford, tenor
Roger Vignoles, piano

Stabat Mater
1. Stabat Mater dolorosa; 10. Amen
Katia Ricciarelli, soprano
Dalmacio Gonzales, tenor
Ruggero Raimondi, bass
Lucia Valentini Terrani, soprano
Philharmonia Orchestra
Philharmonia Chorus
Carlo Maria Giulini, conductor