Conservatorio Rossini e Tempietto Rossiniano

Pesaro's Conservatorio Statale di Musica Gioachino Rossini grew from the composer's bequest to his native city. Courses began in 1882. Nearby, the Tempietto Rossiniano in Palazzo Olivieri preserves manuscripts and correspondence associated with Rossini.

Why it matters

Rossini's will, drawn up in 1858, made Pesaro his universal heir and directed his legacy toward the establishment of a music school in his hometown. The conservatory opened its courses in 1882 and later became a state institution. Its directors have included Carlo Pedrotti, Pietro Mascagni and Riccardo Zandonai. The conservatory and the manuscript collection of the Tempietto Rossiniano connect music education with the study of Rossini's work.

What to notice

The palace's decorative rooms include the Sala dei Marmi, whose apparent marble is scagliola worked with pigment, and frescoes by Gian Andrea Lazzarini and his pupils. The Tempietto Rossiniano holds autograph manuscripts of operas Rossini premiered in Naples, alongside the complete Péchés de vieillesse, letters and correspondence. A signed album leaf of Mi lagnerò tacendo, dated 1850 in Florence, is also part of the collection.

Context and history

Rossini's bequest initially funded a pensionato and then the Liceo Musicale, whose courses began in 1882. The institution developed into a state conservatory, with a directorship that included several prominent Italian composers. The Tempietto is housed in Palazzo Olivieri, whose rooms were decorated by Lazzarini. Some holdings once kept with the Fondazione Rossini's collection—including the composer's honours and decorations, the autograph of the Petite Messe Solennelle and a painting by Gustave Doré—were transferred to the Museo Nazionale Rossini.