Gioachino Rossini, Italian composer, 1792-1868
Gioachino Rossini was an Italian composer who wrote 39 operas as well as sacred music, chamber music, songs, and some instrumental and piano pieces. His best-known operas include the Italian comedies "Il barbiere di Siviglia" (The Barber of Seville) and "La Cenerentola" (Cinderella), and the French-language epics "Moïse et Pharaon" and "Guillaume Tell" (William Tell). A tendency for inspired, song-like melodies is evident throughout his scores, which led to the nickname "The Italian Mozart". Until his retirement in 1829, Rossini had been the most popular opera composer in history.