This Duet for Two Cats Will Make Your Day
Some artists are productive throughout their whole lives—think, for example, of Michelangelo who created the magnificent Vatican Pietà in his early twenties and was still sculpting his last of four Pietàs six days before his death at age 89.
Then, there are some artists who express their great talents only for a season.
In this latter category was the flamboyant and talented Gioachino (Jo-a-kee-no) Rossini, whom most people will remember as the composer of the famous opera, The Barber of Seville. (You know, Figaro, Figaro, Fig-a-ro! Yeah, that one.)
Rossini (1792-1868) was born in the town of Pesaro on the Adriatic Sea in what was then the territory of the Papal States.
He was the child of two accomplished musicians, so music was in his blood. It was not seen as unusual, then, that he began composing music at the age of 12.
His career took off when he was hired as director of the royal theatres in Naples in 1815. He was only 23 years old at the time, but that position turned out to be the peak period of his creative life.
Rossini wrote most of his 39 operas there as well as a ton of sacred music in the next decade but then mysteriously retired in his early 30s at the height of his fame. He never produced on such a large scale again, though he lived forty more years.
As I said, his retirement is rather unusual and has never been fully explained. But as I noted, some artists flourish only for a season. Perhaps Rossini was humble enough to recognize that fact.
We’ve all seen those aging artists who ignore the common sense advice to “quit while you’re ahead” and diminish the luster of a brilliant career by trying to relive the glory days of their youth.
This “Humorous Duet for Two Cats” is attributed to Rossini. It is presumed he wrote it because it came from the same era, and many of his other operatic works, such as the Barber of Seville, were comedic masterpieces.
The video clip below runs five and a half minutes, but it will be well worth your time to watch the whole thing. As much as I like the performance itself, I think I like the audience reaction even better.
Enjoy Rossini’s clever meow-sical fun!