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Bellini's Diva

Donald Macleod focuses on Bellini's lifelong friendship with the famous Italian soprano Giuditta Pasta, for whom he created the operatic roles of Amina and Norma.

In 1830, Bellini formed a lifelong friendship with famous Italian soprano Giuditta Pasta. He went on to create the roles of Amina (La Sonnambula), and Norma specifically for her.

Bellini's tragic opera, Norma, is often considered his masterpiece and contains one of the most famous arias of the 19th century: Casta Diva. It was an aria that, originally, Giuditta Pasta refused to sing! We hear a large extract from this opera that includes Casta Diva, performed by Maria Callas. We also hear an example of Bellini's coloratura fireworks in an aria and duet from La Sonnambula (The Sleepwalker).

1 hour

Music Played

  • Vincenzo Bellini

    Norma - Guerra, guerra! [chorus]

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

    Norma - Act 2 sc.3; Guerra, guerra! [chorus]

    Performer: Orchestra of La Scala, Milan. Singer: Maria Callas. Singer: Nicola Rossi鈥怢emeni. Conductor: Tullio Serafin.
    • NAXOS 811032527.
    • 3.
    • 9.
  • Vincenzo Bellini

    Norma - Act 2 sc.3; Guerra, guerra! [chorus]

    Performer: Orchestra of La Scala, Milan. Singer: Maria Callas. Singer: Nicola Rossi鈥怢emeni. Conductor: Tullio Serafin.
    • NAXOS 811032527.
    • 3.
    • 9.
  • Vincenzo Bellini

    La Sonnambula - Prendi, l'anel ti dono

    Singer: Cecilia Bartoli. Singer: Juan Diego Fl贸rez. Orchestra: Orchestra La Scintilla. Director: Alessandro De Marchi.
    • L`OISEAU LYRE : 478-108.
    • L`OISEAU LYRE.
    • 10.
  • Vincenzo Bellini

    La Sonnambula - Act 1; Prendi, l'anel ti dono

    Singer: Cecilia Bartoli. Singer: Juan Diego Fl贸rez. Orchestra: Orchestra La Scintilla. Director: Alessandro De Marchi.
    • L`OISEAU LYRE : 478-108.
    • L`OISEAU LYRE.
    • 10.
  • Vincenzo Bellini

    La Sonnambula - Act 1; Prendi, l'anel ti dono

    Singer: Cecilia Bartoli. Singer: Juan Diego Fl贸rez. Orchestra: Orchestra La Scintilla. Director: Alessandro De Marchi.
    • L`OISEAU LYRE : 478-108.
    • L`OISEAU LYRE.
    • 10.
  • Vincenzo Bellini

    La Sonnambula - Ah! Non giunge

    Singer: Cecilia Bartoli. Singer: Juan Diego Fl贸rez. Orchestra: Orchestra La Scintilla. Director: Alessandro De Marchi.
    • L`OISEAU LYRE : 478-108.
    • L`OISEAU LYRE.
    • 10.
  • Vincenzo Bellini

    La Sonnambula - Act 2 sc.2; Ah! Non giunge

    Singer: Cecilia Bartoli. Singer: Juan Diego Fl贸rez. Orchestra: Orchestra La Scintilla. Director: Alessandro De Marchi.
    • L`OISEAU LYRE : 478-108.
    • L`OISEAU LYRE.
    • 10.
  • Vincenzo Bellini

    La Sonnambula - Act 2 sc.2; Ah! Non giunge

    Singer: Cecilia Bartoli. Singer: Juan Diego Fl贸rez. Orchestra: Orchestra La Scintilla. Director: Alessandro De Marchi.
    • L`OISEAU LYRE : 478-108.
    • L`OISEAU LYRE.
    • 10.
  • Vincenzo Bellini

    Vaga luna che inargenti

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

    Vaga Luna Che Inargenti - Arietta For Voice And Piano

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

    Vaga Luna Che Inargenti - Arietta For Voice And Piano

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

    Norma - Act 1;

    Performer: Orchestra of La Scala, Milan. Singer: Maria Callas. Singer: Nicola Rossi鈥怢emeni. Conductor: Tullio Serafin.
    • NAXOS 811032527.
    • 3.
    • 9.
  • Vincenzo Bellini

    Norma- Act 1 - Sediziose voci...Vieni in Roma (including arias Casta Diva & Va, crudele

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

    Norma- Act 1 - Sediziose voci...Vieni in Roma (including arias Casta Diva & Va, crudele

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

Broadcasts

  • Thu 24 Sep 2015 12:00
  • Thu 24 Sep 2015 18:30
  • Thu 26 Oct 2017 12:00

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