Classical Music / Composer's Datebook: November 3
Italian Opera Composer of the Romantic Period
Vincenzo Bellini's brief biography – his life, opera, and major works. He is best known for opera Norma and 'bel canto' (beautiful singing).
Vincenzo Bellini is best known for his opera Norma which established him as the master of the Italian operatic bel canto style of singing, with his arias having long melodic score and dramatic tension brilliantly crafted. The story and settings take a back seat in favour of bel canto ('beautiful singing.')
Early Years
Born on November 3, 1801, in the Sicilian town of Catania, Vincenzo Bellini started piano lessons given by his father. A child prodigy, he could already play very well at five. He developed simplicity of melodic expression in his compositions. He studied at Naples Conservatory.
His first opera, Adelson e Salvini, was produced in 1825 while still a student. This attracted the attention of Domenico Barbaia, who commissioned him to write Bianca e Gernando, produced at the Teatro San Carlo. Norma and La Sonnambula (The Sleepwalker) followed in 1831. In I Puritani (The Puritans), his last work, he discovered a new boldness and vigour of orchestral effect.
Later Years
Two years after he wrote Norma, he travelled to London and Paris, where he met and befriended Gioachino Rossini and Frédéric Chopin.
Like Mozart and Schubert, he also died in his thirties. His popularity after his death was enormous, but later his operas fell into neglect. Since World War II, however, singers including Maria Callas, Joan Sutherland, and Montserrat Caballe, have helped restore Bellini’s popularity particularly with his masterpiece Norma.
He once wrote in a letter, “Carve in your head by letter of brass: an opera must draw tears, cause horror, bring death, by means of a song.” This is exactly what his operas portray.
Bellini was appointed a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur. He died from gastroenteritis, in Puteaux near Paris, aged 34.
Bellini was a contemporary and rival of Gaetano Donizetti, famous for his opera L'Elisir d'amore. With Felice Romani his librettist, Bellini and Romani were the Rodgers and Hammerstein of their day. They collaborated on six operas.
Suggested Listening:
Bellini - Norma, Casta Diva / Presentat° + New Mastering (Maria Callas, Ct. record.: T.Serafin 1954). YouTube, uploaded by Classical Music / Reference Recording. Accessed November 3, 2020.
Bellini's Major Operas
Adelson e Salvini (Adelson and Salvini) 1825
Bianca e Gernando (Bianca and Gernando) 1826
Il Pirata (The Pirate) 1827
La straniera (The Foreigner) 1829
Zaira 1829
I Capuleti e i Montecchi (The Capulets and the Montagues) 1830
La Sonnambula (The Sleepwalker) 1831
Norma,
including 'The Warriors' Chorus' 1831
Beatrice di Tenda 1833
I Puritani (The Puritans) 1835
Suggested Bellini Recording
Opera Norma (highlights), either performed by Maria Callas or Dame Joan Sutherland in the leading role.
Resource:
Sadie, Stanley, Ed. The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 2nd Edition. London: Macmillan Publishers. 2000
Note: This article is an abridged version. I originally wrote and published a longer piece for suite101.com in October 2007. / Tel
(c) November 3, 2010. Updated November 3, 2022. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.
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