Gioachino Rossini: 7 Péchés de vieillesse, for piano four-hands, transcription by Luca Fialdini — cover

Rossini: 7 Péchés de vieillesse — Rien no. 19, first page of the piano four-hands transcription by Luca Fialdini

Da Vinci Edition

Gioachino Rossini: 7 Péchés de vieillesse, for Piano Four-Hands

DV 22303A4 - PaperbackPiano 4 Hands

38.00€

ComposersGioacchino RossiniBiographies

Gioacchino Rossini: (b Pesaro, 29 Feb 1792; d Passy, 13 Nov 1868). Italian composer. No composer in the first half of the 19th century enjoyed the measure of prestige, wealth, popular acclaim or artistic influence that belonged to Rossini. His contemporaries recognized him as the greatest Italian composer of his time. His achievements cast into oblivion the operatic world of Cimarosa and Paisiello, creating new standards against which other composers were to be judged. That both Bellini and Donizetti carved out personal styles is undeniable; but they worked under Rossini’s shadow, and their artistic personalities emerged in confrontation with his operas. Not until the advent of Verdi was Rossini replaced at the centre of Italian operatic life.

About this edition

Seven pieces from Gioachino Rossini’s Péchés de vieillesse, transcribed for piano four-hands by Luca Fialdini.

Introduction

These little transcriptions come into being in 2018 on the occasion of Rossini’s death one hundred and fiftieth anniversary, so they must be interpreted not from the perspective of a philological operation (for that there are quite other authorities) but of sincere and heartfelt homage.

The corpus of the Péchés de vieillesse is truly monumental – with over one hundred and fifty chamber pieces for voice, vocal ensemble and solo instrument – culminating in the Petite messe solennelle, which the composer himself refers to as «the last of my Péchés de vieillesse». Nonetheless, the vast part of this production still struggles to filter into the space it is rightfully entitled to, namely the large repertoire.

It is natural that a single publication cannot change the state of affairs in any way, but who knows whether it might not pique someone’s curiosity, a pebble to start the «The avalanche rolling down from our mountain tops», and that it might not lead to greater interest in chamber music Rossini in the future. In that case, it will have been worth it to have committed these seven sins.

Luca Fialdini
Milan, January 2025