Welcome to Rossini, where Italian opera and gastronomy merge to create a unique culinary experience!
In our restaurant, you will find many details in the decoration with references to Italian opera, creating a magical link between music and food.
Every detail is carefully selected to transport you to the heart of opera, from the curtains that seem to slide like a curtain drop, to the lamps that float in the air like musical notes. The portraits of the great composers adorn the walls, creating a visual gallery that celebrates the greatness of Italian opera.
Gioachino Rossini
Our host, Gioachino Rossini, was born on February 29, 1792 in Pesaro, Italy. He was one of the most prominent composers of Italian opera during the 19th century, and a great ambassador of Italian cuisine.
From his early operas in youth to his early retirement, his musical trajectory was unstoppable, leaving an indelible mark on the universe of opera.
Already at an early age, Rossini showed prodigious musical talent. His father, a trumpeter and cornetist, introduced him to music, and at 6 years old, he was already studying at the Conservatory of Music in Bologna. At 18, Rossini composed his first opera, “La Cambiale di Matrimonio,” marking the beginning of a career that would develop with astonishing speed and creativity.
Despite his continuous success, Rossini retired from opera composition at the age of 37. He moved to Paris, where he lived an active social life and introduced Italian cuisine. He passed away on November 13, 1868.
The best operas of Rossini
Il Barbiere di Siviglia (1816)
The story follows the adventures of a young Count named Almaviva, who is in love with the beautiful Rosina. However, Bartolo, Rosina's tutor, plans to marry her to inherit her fortune. With the help of the cunning barber Figaro, Almaviva tries to win Rosina's heart and frustrate Bartolo's plans. The opera is full of deception, disguises, jealousy, and comic entanglements.
La Cenerentola (1817)
It tells the story of Angelina, a young servant who is mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters. Despite this, Angelina remains strong, which wins Prince Don Ramiro's heart, who falls in love with her at a party she attends disguised thanks to her fairy godmother. However, when the prince looks for his beloved, he does not find her and instead meets Angelina's stepsisters, who try to deceive him into marrying them. Fortunately, Angelina is able to demonstrate her true identity, leading to a happy ending for the couple.
Guillaume Tell (1829)
The plot takes place in Switzerland during the 14th century and tells the story of a people who rebel against the oppression of Austrian rulers. The hero of the opera is Guillaume Tell, a Swiss archer who leads the rebellion against the invaders. Throughout the opera, a series of dramatic and exciting events occur, including a famous scene in which Tell must shoot an arrow through an apple placed on the head of his own son.
Giacomo Puccini
Giacomo Puccini was born on December 22, 1858, in Lucca, Italy. He is one of the great masters of opera of the 19th and early 20th centuries. His ability to capture emotional complexities through expressive melodies and passionate plots earned him a prominent place in the classical music history.
He was born into a family of musicians and began his musical education at the local conservatory in Lucca. Later, he continued his studies at the Milan Conservatory, where he had the opportunity to perfect his art under the tutelage of great masters. His talent was evident from the beginning, but it was with his opera “Manon Lescaut” (1893) that Puccini began to receive the recognition he deserved.
Puccini passed away on November 29, 1924 leaving his great opera, Turandot, unfinished.
The best operas of Puccini
La Bohème (1896)
La Bohème takes place in Paris, in the 19th century, and tells the story of a group of young bohemian artists who struggle to survive in a city full of poverty and disease. The opera focuses on the relationship between the poet Rodolfo and the seamstress Mimi, who fall in love despite the difficulties they face. As the work progresses, the characters' internal conflicts are revealed and themes such as love, friendship, death, and loss are explored.
Madama Butterfly (1904)
The young Japanese geisha named Cio-Cio-San, also known as Butterfly, had a relationship with an American naval officer named Pinkerton. The marriage between the two is seen by the young woman as a serious and loving commitment, while the officer sees it as a mere temporary whim. When Pinkerton leaves Japan, Butterfly becomes pregnant and eagerly awaits his return, convinced that he will come back for her and their child. However, when Pinkerton finally returns to Japan, he does not come alone and with the intention of taking his son to America. Butterfly, desperate, makes a difficult decision.
Turandot (1926)
The work explains the life of Princess Turandot, who has sworn never to marry a man who cannot solve three riddles. If someone fails, they will be sentenced to death. Many have tried, but none have succeeded in overcoming the challenge.
The plot becomes complicated when Calaf, the prince of Tartary, arrives in the city and falls desperately in love with Turandot. Despite the danger, he accepts the challenge of the riddles and, with the help of his cunning, manages to solve them. But instead of demanding his prize, he offers Turandot a deal: if she can guess his name before dawn, he will die. If she cannot, she will marry him.
Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Verdi was born on October 9, 1813 in Roncole, Italy. He is one of the greatest opera composers of all time. His impact on classical music, especially in the operatic field, is undeniable, and his legacy endures through the generations.
Verdi’s life was marked by tragedy from the beginning. Orphaned at an early age, he showed exceptional musical talent and received a scholarship to study at the Milan Conservatory of Music. His first opera, “Oberto, Conte di San Bonifacio,” premiered in 1839, marking the beginning of a career that would forever transform the world of opera.
Verdi’s operas are characterized by drama, vivid characters, and unforgettable melodies. His ability to merge music and narrative is evident in each of his compositions. He had a special gift for bringing human and social conflicts to life through music.
The best operas of Verdi
La Traviata (1853)
This opera tells the story of Violetta, a high society courtesan in Paris, who falls in love with the nobleman Alfredo Germont. However, their love is interrupted when Alfredo's father, Giorgio Germont, asks Violetta to stay away from his son. Despite her feelings, Violetta accepts the request and leaves Alfredo. The second part of the opera takes place in Violetta's villa, where she is gravely ill. Giorgio Germont arrives to ask for forgiveness and reveals to Violetta that his son is desperate without her. In a heartbreaking moment, Violetta dies in the arms of Alfredo, while Giorgio Germont laments the sadness he has caused Violetta and his son.
Rigoletto (1851)
Rigoletto, a hunchbacked court jester of the Duke of Mantua, is known for his contempt for women and his tendency to seduce and abandon them. Rigoletto has a daughter, Gilda, whom he keeps hidden from the outside world to protect her from the machinations of the Duke. However, the Duke discovers Gilda and falls in love with her.
Rigoletto hires an assassin to kill the Duke, but things don't go as planned and Gilda ends up taking his place as the target of revenge.
Finally, Rigoletto realizes that his desire for revenge has led to the death of his own daughter, and he is left devastated.
Nabucco (1842)
King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon, Nabucco, is portrayed as a proud and ruthless leader, who proclaims himself as a god and demands the worship of his people. However, his daughter, Abigaille, ambitious and jealous, conspires against him to take the throne.
The plot becomes complicated when the Hebrews are taken as prisoners, including his daughter Fenena, who falls in love with Ismaele, a Hebrew prisoner. Abigaille, taking advantage of the situation, sentences Fenena to death. Nabucco converts to the Hebrew God and saves his daughter Fenena, while Abigaille dies in her attempt to take the throne. The opera concludes with Nabucco restoring the Hebrew temple and returning freedom to the Hebrew prisoners.
Other classics of Italian Opera
Pagliacci (1892)
Pagliacci is an opera by Ruggero Leoncavallo that tells the story of a traveling theater company. The leader, Canio, plays a jealous clown who suspects his wife, Nedda, of infidelity with a young man named Silvio. The plot thickens when Nedda plans to elope with him and is discovered by Tonio, another member of the company who is in love with her. Canio loses control and kills Nedda and Silvio on stage, while the audience believes it is part of the show.
Norma (1831)
"Norma" is an opera composed by Vincenzo Bellini. The plot takes place in ancient Gaul and follows the story of Norma, a Druid priestess who struggles between her love for the Roman proconsul Pollione and her loyalty to her people and religion, while the Druids prepare for a great revolt against the Roman occupiers.
L'elisir d'amore (1832)
It is a comic opera by Gaetano Donizetti that tells the love story of Nemorino and Adina. Nemorino, a young peasant in love with Adina, tries to conquer her, but she flirts with Sergeant Belcore. Desperate, he buys a love potion from a charlatan, but it is actually only wine. Although Nemorino believes it works, it is actually his behavior that attracts Adina. Finally, they get married after Nemorino inherits a fortune, and Dulcamara, the charlatan, walks away with his money.
Cavalleria Rusticana (1890)
Pietro Mascagni writes this opera set in a Sicilian village. Turiddu has fallen in love with Lola, but she is married to the postman Alfio. Desperate for unrequited love, Turiddu begins a relationship with another woman, Santuzza. The plot thickens when Santuzza discovers that Turiddu is still in love with Lola and asks him to come back to her. Turiddu refuses and, in a duel, is killed by Alfio. The opera ends with Santuzza crying over Turiddu's death and Alfio's revenge.
