Vincenzo Bellini
3 November 1801 — 23 September 1835
Was an Italian opera composer, who was known for his long-flowing melodic lines for which he was named "the Swan of Catania". Many years later, in 1898, Giuseppe Verdi "praised the broad curves of Bellini's melody: 'there are extremely long melodies as no-one else had ever made before' "
Bellini was the quintessential composer of the Italian bel canto era of the early 19th century.
Bellini was the quintessential composer of the Italian bel canto era of the early 19th century.
Operas
| Opera | Premiere or date of written | Libretti available |
|---|---|---|
| La sonnambula | 1831, March 6 | italian, english |
| Norma | 1831, December 26 | italian, english |
History
| November 3, 1801 | Vincenzo Bellini, one of the leading composers of bel canto opera and the creator of "Norma", "La sonnambula" and "I puritani", was born in Catania, Sicily. |
| August 25, 1825 | Vincenzo Bellini's first professionally produced opera, "Bianca e Gernando", received its world premiere at the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples, establishing the young composer in the Italian operatic world. |
| March 6, 1831 | World premiere of Vincenzo Bellini's "La sonnambula" at Teatro Carcano (Milan). |
| December 26, 1831 | Vincenzo Bellini’s opera "Norma" had its world premiere at Teatro alla Scala in Milan. |
| March 16, 1833 | First performance (world premiere) of Vincenzo Bellini’s opera "Beatrice di Tenda" at Teatro La Fenice in Venice. |
| January 24, 1835 | Vincenzo Bellini’s opera "I puritani" premiered at the Théâtre-Italien in Paris. |
| October 19, 1835 | Death of Italian opera composer Vincenzo Bellini in Puteaux, France. |
| October 19, 1839 | Vincenzo Bellini’s "I puritani" received its premiere at the Bolshoi (Kamennyi) Theatre in Saint Petersburg with the Imperial Russian Opera Company. |
| October 29, 1883 | Vincenzo Bellini's opera "I puritani" received its Metropolitan Opera premiere in New York, featuring Marcella Sembrich as Elvira and Roberto Stagno as Arturo, conducted by Auguste Vianesi. |
| October 19, 1960 | Vincenzo Bellini’s "La sonnambula" received its Royal Opera company premiere at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. |
