Why did Gioachino Rossini stop writing operas after William Tell?

The reasons why Gioachino Rossini ceased writing operas after William Tell (1829) remain a subject of historical speculation rather than established fact. While he was only 37 years old at the time, several theories have been proposed to explain his sudden retirement from the theatre:1

• Contractual issues: William Tell was intended to be the first of five operas commissioned for the Opéra, but the new government following the Revolution of 1830 cancelled his contract.1
• Personal disposition: Some historians attribute his silence to his legendary laziness or a sense of "sulkiness" resulting from perceived hostility from the Parisian public toward his work.1
• Professional rivalry: Others suggest he may have been discouraged by the success of the opera composer Giacomo Meyerbeer in Paris.1

Despite his departure from operatic composition, Rossini remained a wealthy and celebrated figure, eventually returning to music later in life to compose religious works such as the Stabat Mater and Petite messe solennelle.1