Gioacchino Antonio Rossini was an Italian composer known for his operas, particularly his comic operas. He was born in 1792 and became one of the most popular opera composers in the early 19th century. Some of his most famous works include "The Barber of Seville," "La Cenerentola," and "William Tell." Rossini's music is characterized by its melodic inventiveness and rhythmic vitality, and he had a significant influence on the development of opera during his time.