Music and Time Annotation << Back Vocal Embellishments in Gioachino Rossini’s Operas L.A. Sadykova The article is devoted to the problem of vocal embellishments in Gioachino Rossini’s operas. For a long time it was considered that he had destroyed the art of vocal improvisation, prohibiting the singers to ornament their parts. To avoid performing freedom, it is supposed that starting from 1815 the composer himself began to insert all graces in scores. However, a careful study of critical editions of Rossini’s operas leads to a correction of the picture: author’s remarks like a piacere or ad libitum, which are found in the operas of various years show that Rossini trusted the singers, their taste and art. The performers of that period, possessing the art of virtuous ornamentation, also inserted their embellishments in cadenzas and repeating sections of arias and duets. Keywords: G. Rossini, opera, singers, vocal ornamentation, embellishments, variations, cadenza, a piacere, appoggiatura. Contacts: E-mail: Lilly_Sadykova@mai l.ru Pp. 54-60.