CONTENTS Chapter I ROSSINI'S CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH II LA PIETRA DEL PARAGONE III ITALIAN OPERA UNTIL THE TIME OF ROSSINI IV TANCREDI V OPERATIC CUSTOMS IN ROSSINI'S TIME VI ROSSINI AT NAPLES VII PREPARATIONS FOR THE BARBER VIII IL BARBIERE IX ROSSINI AND THE COMIC IN MUSIC X FROM OTELLO TO SEMIRAMIDE XI ROSSINI ON HIS TRAVELS XII DONIZETTI XIII VERDI