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Gioachino Rossini was — unbelievably — only 12 years old when he wrote six gorgeous string sonatas while spending a summer in Ravenna, Italy. Originally written for a string quartet, Music Director Designate Enrique Mazzola leads an enhanced string ensemble featuring members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra in performances of all six of these beautiful, lesser-known pieces. Each video in the digital series will feature one of the sonatas, with new videos being released every week..
In our first episode of The Sonata Sessions, we hear Gioachino Rossini's String Sonata No. 1 in G Major, performed by members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra with Maestro Enrique Mazzola on the podium. In this piece, you'll notice that Rossini seamlessly passes the melody back and forth between the different instruments, almost like a game of basketball!
In this episode of The Sonata Sessions, members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra perform Rossini's String Sonata No. 2 in A Major led by Maestro Enrique Mazzola. The rhythmical variety and Rossini's ability to take his audience on a journey from soulful to dramatic to impish all in one piece, foreshadows the breadth of his future operatic output. From laugh-out-loud comedy to heart wrenching drama, Rossini could—and would—do it all.
In this episode of The Sonata Sessions, we hear Rossini's String Sonata No. 3 in C Major, played by members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra with Music Director Designate Enrique Mazzola. Written in C Major, there's a perfect combination of grace and dignity, but also aggressive virtuosity. This piece is also the only sonata to break the conventional "fast-slow-fast" tempo pattern by ending with a movement marked Moderato.
In this episode of The Sonata Sessions, members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra perform Rossini's String Sonata No. 4 in B-flat Major under the baton of Maestro Enrique Mazzola. This piece is a study in contrasts. It features rapid descending chromatic scales—one of the most technically challenging passages in any of Rossini's instrumental music—as well as a bouncy, almost dance-like third movement. Quite impressive for a 12 year old composer!
We continue The Sonata Sessions with Rossini’s String Sonata No. 5 in E-flat Major, performed by members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra and conducted by Maestro Enrique Mazzola. Mozart’s influence on the young Rossini is possibly most evident in this sonata. While this energetic piece hints at many of the composer’s future operatic overtures, one of the most interesting aspects is hearing the violins playing “sul ponticello,” (meaning playing with the bow very near to the bridge) giving the effect of a swarm of bees!
Bringing The Sonata Sessions to a close is Rossini's String Sonata No. 6 in D Major performed by members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra, with Maestro Enrique Mazzola on the podium. The piece concludes with a dramatic finale titled "Allegro Tempesta," which is almost like looking 25 years into the future with the famous storm from the composer's final opera, William Tell.
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