Gioachino Rossini (born in Pesaro on 29 February 1792; died in Passy on 13 November 1868) was an Italian composer. He was the most famous composer of operas in his time. His operas had lots of new ideas. The opera for which he is best known today is the Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville). Many of the overtures to his operas are played at orchestral concerts. The most popular is the overture to his opera Guillaume Tell (William Tell) with its famous galloping tune. During the last 40 years of his life Rossini wrote no more music. His friends begged him to write another opera but he always refused.

His birthplace was Pesaro, a small town in Italy on the Adriatic coast. His father played the horn in military bands and opera houses and his mother sang in operas. Rossini’s music is a link between the Classical and the Romantic periods. He was brought up hearing 18th century opera, and much of his best known music is still Classical in style, but he developed a lot as he matured and was writing in a more Romantic way by the end of his career.

In 2016 there's the start of the celebrations for the 150th bicentennial of Gioachino Rossini's death (2016/2018).
In 2018 there will be the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the death of Gioachino Rossini, the famous composer born in Pesaro in 1792 and died in Passy, Paris in 1868. Pesaro, City of Music, has been hosting the events and celebrations since the year 2016. The program will finish in 2019.