Blithe Genius: The Story of Rossini
By Gladys Malvern, illus. by Donald Bolognese, copyright 1959, 202 pages.
Genre: Biography/Composer
RL: 5th - adult
Gioacchino Rossini was born into a poor, but very musical family. His father, Giuseppe Rossini, was a trumpet player; his mother Anna, could sing. Both of his parents wanted to give him only the best musical training, but they hardly had enough money for food, let alone music lessons. Young Rossini wanted very badly to help his parents. Being a smart boy he thought of the church choir, so off he went! When Father Guiseppe Malerbi gave him an audition, he was surprised and delighted to find that the boy had marvelous talent. Thus was the start of Rossini's musical career! As one person after another discovered and recognized his talent they sought to help him get the education he would need to be great! After years of hard work and study, Rossini wrote his first of many, many operas. Soon all of Europe was in love with the wonderful Rossini!
I can remember learning about Rossini in high school, but if you are like most people you probably have never heard of him! Perhaps you have heard of the William Tell overture? You may know it as the theme song of The Lone Ranger. Well, it comes from one of Rossini's greatest operas! Even though I remembered learning about Rossini is school, I didn't know very much about him. This book was an excellent source of information! Written in a story format, I learned much more about this great composer than in a book written in the cut-and-dried fact format. This is the first biography I've read in years and I loved it!
Genre: Biography/Composer
RL: 5th - adult
Gioacchino Rossini was born into a poor, but very musical family. His father, Giuseppe Rossini, was a trumpet player; his mother Anna, could sing. Both of his parents wanted to give him only the best musical training, but they hardly had enough money for food, let alone music lessons. Young Rossini wanted very badly to help his parents. Being a smart boy he thought of the church choir, so off he went! When Father Guiseppe Malerbi gave him an audition, he was surprised and delighted to find that the boy had marvelous talent. Thus was the start of Rossini's musical career! As one person after another discovered and recognized his talent they sought to help him get the education he would need to be great! After years of hard work and study, Rossini wrote his first of many, many operas. Soon all of Europe was in love with the wonderful Rossini!
I can remember learning about Rossini in high school, but if you are like most people you probably have never heard of him! Perhaps you have heard of the William Tell overture? You may know it as the theme song of The Lone Ranger. Well, it comes from one of Rossini's greatest operas! Even though I remembered learning about Rossini is school, I didn't know very much about him. This book was an excellent source of information! Written in a story format, I learned much more about this great composer than in a book written in the cut-and-dried fact format. This is the first biography I've read in years and I loved it!