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).
Last on
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大象传媒 Radio 3
- Thu 24 Sep 2015 18:30大象传媒 Radio 3
- Thu 26 Oct 2017 12:00大象传媒 Radio 3
Vaughan Williams Today
Beethoven Unleashed 鈥 the box set
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Composers A to Z
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time 鈥 why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.