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Monday, 7 November 2016

Vincenzo Bellini


Nationality: Italian

Born: Catania, November 3rd 1801

Died: Puteaux, September 23rd 1835

Type of music: Opera

Main works: La Sonnambula (1830), Norma (1831)


Bellini, like Donizetti, was an Italian operatic composer in the early romantic period. His career also saw him journey west to London and then Paris, where he died shortly before his 34th birthday.

Bellini was taught music at an early age from his father and grandfather, and then at the age of 18 he attended the Royal Conservatory in Naples. It was here his compositional career began and in 1825 the school produced and performed his first opera 'Adelson e Salvini'.

Further commissions soon came from Naples and Milan and in 1827 his opera 'Il pirata' was produced at the famous La Scala theatre and was met with great success. The libretto for this opera was written by Felice Romani, who collaborated with Bellini on several more operas, the last of which was 'Beatrice di Tenda' in 1833.

Soon after this, Bellini arrived in Paris where his last operatic commission was produced. 'I puritani' was produced at the Italian theatre in Paris in 1835, which also produced Donizetti's 'Don Pasquale'.

The Bel Canto style of opera that Bellini, Rossini and Donizetti composed in during this period did not survive through the rise of nationalism and the late romantic period, but found it's revival in the 20th Century.


Long, long melodies, such as no one has ever written before”. - Giuseppe Verdi


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