Rossini’s Sins of Old Age.

Raymond Bisha introduces us to the flip-side of Rossini the opera composer, who spent the last 40 years of his life in operatic retirement, instead composing some 200 vocal and solo piano pieces (his Sins of Old Age) whilst also indulging in the pleasantries of life as a gourmand and amateur chef. The final release in Naxos’ 11-volume edition of the Sins of Old Age again presents the mastermind of the project, pianist Alessandro Marangoni. He features solo on the lion’s share of the series’ recordings, but is joined for this final instalment by seven vocal soloists.