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    Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (2) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Download 'Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (2)' on iTunes

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    Gioachino Rossini and Isabella Colbran

    This image appears in the gallery:
    The greatest classical valentines

    Gioachino Rossini Isabella Colbran

    8. Gioachino Rossini and Isabella Colbran

    In 1815 Rossini composed the title role of 'Elizabeth, Queen of England' especially for the Spanish prima donna. She moved with the composer - who was seven years her junior - to Bologna in 1822, where they married. She created the title role of Semiramide before retiring from singing aged 42. Colbran had a gambling problem and her health declined. Despite separating, Rossini continued to support her and always credited her as being the greatest interpreter of his music.

    1. Image 1: Felix Mendelssohn Cécile Jeanrenaud
    2. Image 2: Richard Wagner Cosima von Bulow
    3. Image 3: Clara Butt Robert Kennerley Rumford opera marriage
    4. Image 4: Franz Liszt Princess Carolyne von Sayn-Wittgen
    5. Image 5: Gabriel Fauré Marguerite Hasselmans
    6. Image 6: MIrella Freni Nikolai Ghiaurov
    7. Image 7: Claude Debussy Emma Bardac
    8. Image 8: Gioachino Rossini Isabella Colbran
    9. Image 9: Johann Sebastian Bach Anna Magdalena Wilcken
    10. Image 10: Leos Janáček Kamila Stosslova 12 images

    See the full gallery: The greatest classical valentines

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