It was in the eventful year, then, of 1813—the year of “Il Figlio per Azzardo”, with its obbligato accompaniment for lamp-shades of “Tancredi” and of “L’Italiana in Algeri”—that Rossini was writing one morning in bed, when the duet on which he was engaged fell from his hands.
H. Sutherland Edwards, The Life of Rossini: Mit Portrait, United Kingdom, Hurst & Blacxett, 1869, pp. 62-63.
“Nothing easier”, an ordinary composer would say, “than to pick it up again.”
“Nothing easier”, said Rossini, “than to write a new one in its place.”
Rossini would not get out of bed for a mere duet. He set to work and composed another, which did not resemble the original one in the least.
A friend called. “I have just dropped a duet,” said Rossini, “I wish you would get it for me. You will find it somewhere under the bed.”
The friend felt for the duet with his cane, fished it out, and handed it to the composer.
“Now which do you like best?” asked Rossini; “I have written two.”
He sang them both. The friend thought the character of the first was most in keeping with the dramatic situation. Rossini was of the same opinion, and decided to turn the second duet into a trio.
He finished his trio, got up, dressed, sent the two pieces to the theatrical copyist, and went out to breakfast.
A duet under the bed
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