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Child Prodigy to Student Triumph

Donald Macleod introduces some of Bellini's early works, including a song written at the age of 12, an oboe concerto and an excerpt from his first opera, Adelson e Salvini.

Italian composer Vincenzo Bellini, famous for his bel canto era operas, was born into a musical family in Catania, Sicily in 1801. If papers are to be believed, he could sing an aria at 18 months old, and began composing at the age of six.

Donald Macleod introduces some of Bellini's early works, including a song written at the age of 12, an oboe concerto and an extract from his first opera Adelson e Salvini, that so impressed his fellow students and professors it was performed at the conservatory in Naples every Sunday for a year. We hear about his lifelong friend and biographer Francesco Florimo, and an early romance. We will also hear music from Norma, one of Bellini's most successful operas, and his last opera I Puritani.

1 hour

Last on

Mon 23 Oct 2017 12:00

Music Played

  • Vincenzo Bellini

    I Puritani Di Scozia - Act 1 scene 3: Ad Arturo onore (chorus) & A Te, O Cara (aria)

    Performer: The Rome Opera Chorus. Singer: London Symphony Orchestra. Singer: Luciano Pavarotti. Singer: Joan Sutherland. Singer: Nicola茂 Ghiaurov.
    • DECCA 417588-2.
    • DECCA.
    • 7.
  • Vincenzo Bellini

    I Puritani di Scozia - In the castle's Hall of Arms

    Performer: Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Singer: London Symphony Orchestra. Singer: Luciano Pavarotti. Singer: Joan Sutherland. Singer: Nicola茂 Ghiaurov.
    • DECCA 417588-2.
    • DECCA.
    • 7.
  • Vincenzo Bellini

    I Puritani Di Scozia - Act 1 scene 3: Ad Arturo onore (chorus) & A Te, O Cara (aria)

    Performer: The Rome Opera Chorus. Singer: London Symphony Orchestra. Singer: Luciano Pavarotti. Singer: Joan Sutherland. Singer: Nicola茂 Ghiaurov.
    • DECCA 417588-2.
    • DECCA.
    • 7.
  • Vincenzo Bellini

    La Farfalletta - Canzoncina For Voice And Piano

    Singer: Cecilia Bartoli. Conductor: James Levine.
    • DECCA : 455 513-2-.
    • DECCA.
    • 15.
  • Vincenzo Bellini

    La Farfalletta

    Singer: Cecilia Bartoli. Conductor: James Levine.
    • DECCA : 455 513-2-.
    • DECCA.
    • 15.
  • Vincenzo Bellini

    La Farfalletta - Canzoncina For Voice And Piano

    Singer: Cecilia Bartoli. Conductor: James Levine.
    • DECCA : 455 513-2-.
    • DECCA.
    • 15.
  • Vincenzo Bellini

    Salve Regina In A Major For Chorus And Orchestra

    Orchestra: Prague S O. Choir: Radiotelevision Tcheque. Conductor: Eduardo Brizio.
    • STUDIO: SM D24444.
    • 1.
  • Vincenzo Bellini

    Salve regina

    Orchestra: Prague Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Eduardo Brizio.
    • STUDIO: SM D24444.
    • STUDIO.
    • 8.
  • Vincenzo Bellini

    Salve Regina In A Major For Chorus And Orchestra

    Orchestra: Prague S O. Choir: Radiotelevision Tcheque. Conductor: Eduardo Brizio.
    • STUDIO: SM D24444.
    • 1.
  • Vincenzo Bellini

    Dolente Immagine Di Fille Mia - Arietta For Voice And Piano

    Performer: Giorgio Favaretto. Singer: Renata Tebaldi.
    • DECCA : 452-472 2.
    • DECCA.
    • 6.
  • Vincenzo Bellini

    Dolente immagine di Fille mia

    Performer: Giorgio Favaretto. Singer: Renata Tebaldi.
    • DECCA : 452-472 2.
    • DECCA.
    • 6.
  • Vincenzo Bellini

    Dolente Immagine Di Fille Mia - Arietta For Voice And Piano

    Performer: Giorgio Favaretto. Singer: Renata Tebaldi.
    • DECCA : 452-472 2.
    • DECCA.
    • 6.
  • Vincenzo Bellini

    Oboe concerto

    Performer: Diego Dini Ciacci. Orchestra: Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto.
    • CPO 777715-2.
    • CPO.
    • 4.
  • Vincenzo Bellini

    Oboe Concerto in E flat major

    Performer: Diego Dini Ciacci. Orchestra: Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto.
    • CPO 777715-2.
    • CPO.
    • 4.
  • Vincenzo Bellini

    Oboe concerto

    Performer: Diego Dini Ciacci. Orchestra: Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto.
    • CPO 777715-2.
    • CPO.
    • 4.
  • Vincenzo Bellini

    Adelson E Salvini - Act 1 Romanza: Dopa l鈥檕scuro nembo

    Singer: Joyce DiDonato. Orchestra: Orchestre national de Lyon. Conductor: Riccardo Minasi.
    • ERATO: 2564636562.
    • ERATO.
    • 2.
  • Vincenzo Bellini

    Adelson e Salvini

    Singer: Joyce DiDonato. Orchestra: Lyon Opera Orchestra. Conductor: Riccardo Minasi.
    • ERATO: 2564636562.
    • ERATO.
    • 2.
  • Vincenzo Bellini

    Adelson E Salvini - Act 1 Romanza: Dopa l鈥檕scuro nembo

    Singer: Joyce DiDonato. Orchestra: Orchestre national de Lyon. Conductor: Riccardo Minasi.
    • ERATO: 2564636562.
    • ERATO.
    • 2.
  • Vincenzo Bellini

    Norma - Act 2 Scene 3 finale Qual cor tradisti鈥 Deh! Non volerli vittime

    Performer: Orchestra of La Scala, Milan. Singer: Maria Callas. Singer: Nicola Rossi鈥怢emeni. Conductor: Tullio Serafin.
    • NAXOS 811032527.
    • 3.
    • 8.
  • Vincenzo Bellini

    Deh! non volerli vittime (Norma)

    Performer: Orchestra of La Scala, Milan. Singer: Maria Callas. Singer: Nicola Rossi鈥怢emeni. Conductor: Tullio Serafin.
    • NAXOS 811032527.
    • 3.
    • 8.
  • Vincenzo Bellini

    Norma - Act 2 Scene 3 finale Qual cor tradisti鈥 Deh! Non volerli vittime

    Performer: Orchestra of La Scala, Milan. Singer: Maria Callas. Singer: Nicola Rossi鈥怢emeni. Conductor: Tullio Serafin.
    • NAXOS 811032527.
    • 3.
    • 8.

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