Italy is renowned for opera. One of its greatest composers and arguably its most famous was Gioachino Rossini, composer of Il Barbiere di Siviglia, the Barber of Seville. His home was in the city of Pesaro in Le Marche, and it was to this place that we journeyed on the final day of our trip. While there we visited the legendary Teatro Rossini, home of the Pesaro Opera Festival each August since 1980.
Outside of the theater is the Fountain of the Four Tritons, destroyed by the Germans as they retreated out of Italy as WWII was coming to an end and recreated in the 1960’s.
The theater is a classic horseshoe-shaped building with a classic, slightly tilted stage,
surrounded by four tiers of private boxes.
The private boxes were owned by wealthy patrons while the floor seats were available for general admission. We were there for a private performance from a 22 year old pianist who played a selection of half a dozen classical pieces across 45 minutes.
Following the performance we were allowed into the upper boxes and two of our students were given permission to go onstage and pound out a tune on the concert grand.
The pianist was initially reluctant to take questions, but felt compelled to go out and greet the first student following his performance. From there the ice was broken and the students enthusiastically responded with questions.
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