The Istituto Italiano di Cultura presents la life and music of Vincenzo Bellini La Vita di Vincenzo Bellini (DVD)

Venue: the Italian Institute of Culture ‘Michelangelo Hall’
Date: November 18, 2010
Time: 6.30 for 7pm
Entrance: Free
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY
Vincenzo Bellini (3.11.1801 – 23.09.1835)
Vincenzo Bellini, Italian composer of the Romantic period, established himself as the master of the Italian operatic bel canto (‘beautiful singing’). He has been widely acclaimed for his opera Norma. In Italian bel canto operas, the story and setting takes a back seat in favor of beautiful voice, and arias have long melodic score and dramatic tension brilliantly crafted.
Born on November 3, 1801, in the Sicilian town of Catania, Bellini started piano lessons from his father. A child prodigy, at five years of age, he already played the piano very well and immediately developed simplicity of melodic expression. Later in his teens, he studied at Naples Conservatory.
Bellini’s first opera, Adelson e Salvini, was produced in 1825 while still a student. This attracted the attention of Domenico Barbaia, who commissioned him to write Bianca e Gernando, produced at the Teatro San Carlo. Norma and La Sonnambula (The Sleepwalker) followed. In I Puritani (The Puritans), his last work, he discovered a new boldness and vigour of orchestral effect.