Vincenzo Bellini

Vincenzo Bellini (* November 3, 1801, Catania; † September 23, 1835, Puteaux near Paris), along with Gioacchino Rossini and Gaetano Donizetti, is considered a master composer of romantic Italian opera and bel canto. Born into a musical family – his grandfather was Kapellmeister at the Catania Cathedral and Vincenzo's first teacher – he began writing sacred songs and small piano pieces at just twelve years old. His studies led him to Naples, where his first opera, "Adelson e Salvini," was enthusiastically received in 1825. Subsequently, he was supported by the impresario Domenico Barbaja, who had already launched Gioacchino Rossini's career and now encouraged his new protégé to compose his second important opera, "Bianca e Fernando" (1826). With such support, La Scala in Milan took notice of Bellini, commissioned "Il Pirata," and thus ensured the composer's breakthrough on a larger scale in 1827. In this context, he also met the librettist Felice Romani, who from then on took care of the opera texts. A very productive phase saw the creation of several masterpieces such as "La sonnambula" (1831), "Norma" (1831), and "I Puritani" (1835), which remain among the most frequently performed bel canto stage works to this day. From 1833, Vincenzo Bellini lived in Paris, where he was part of the cultural bohemia alongside friends like Rossini and Frédéric Chopin, and was one of the most popular composers of his generation. An intestinal ailment forced him to retreat to his country estate in Puteaux, where he died at the age of only 33. Nevertheless, Vincenzo Bellini managed to secure a firm place in music history. His novel, lyrical-dramatic style, which aimed to portray as naturally, emotionally, and at the same time vocally brilliantly, clearly, and expressively as possible, significantly influenced subsequent generations of opera composers. Bellini's influence can be seen in Richard Wagner as well as Giuseppe Verdi, and performances such as "Norma" with Maria Callas in the title role are among the most famous opera moments of the 20th century.