May 8, 2014 – On March 17, the 10 euro silver proof coin dedicated to Gioachino Rossini has been issued by the Bank of Italy. It belongs to the Europa Star program, which this year focuses on European Composers.
Italy/ 10 EUR/ Silver 925/ 22 g/ 34 mm/ Mintage: 6,500.
Together with Verdi and Puccini, Gioacchino Rossini is a protagonist of the musical scenario of early 19th century, and one of the most important Italian composers, well-known worldwide for masterpieces, like “Il barbiere di Siviglia”, “La gazza ladra” and “Guglielmo Tell”.
Gioachino Rossini, photographed by Étienne Carjat, 1865.
As a precocious artist, Rossini composed his first opera at the age of fourteen and made his official debut on the scenes when he was just eighteen. He composed farces, comedies, tragedies and comic operas; his musical genius gave the melodrama a unique and original imprint, leaving a heritage of musical and theatrical language which is still new and up-to-date even more than a century and a half later.
You can find an overview of the coins released in the European Silver Programme on this website.
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