The Great Operas of Vincenzo Bellini - An Account of the Life and Work of this Distinguished Composer, with Particular Attention to his Operas

Gustav Kobbé

• Publisher: White Press
• Year: 2020
• ISBN:
  9781528767286
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Music Biographies

"The Great Operas of Vincenzo Bellini" is a detailed account of the life and work of Vincenzo Bellini by Gustav Kobbé, with a particular focus on his operatic compositions. Vincenzo Bellini (1801 – 1835) was an famous Italian opera composer. Notable operas by this composer include: "Adelson e Salvini" (1825), "Bianca e Gernando" (1826), and "II Pirata" (1827). This vintage volume is highly recommended for opera lovers and is not to be missed by those with an interest in the life and work of one of it's greatest figures. Gustav Kobbé (1857 – 1918) was an American author and music critic famous for his guide to the operas, "The Complete Opera Book", (1919). Other notable works by this author include: "The Ring of the Nibelung" (1887), "Wagner's Life and Works" (1890), and "New York and its Environs" (1891). Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. We are republishing this book now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new introduction on the history of the theatre.

Vincenzo Bellini

(1802–1835)

BELLINI, born in Catania, Sicily, November 3, 1802, is the composer of “La Sonnambula,” one of the most popular works of the old type of Italian opera still found in the repertoire. “I Puritani,” another work by him, was given for the opening of two New York opera houses, Palmo’s in 1844, and Hammerstein’s Manhattan, in 1903. But it maintains itself only precariously. “Norma” is given still more rarely, although it contains “Casta diva,” one of the most famous solos for soprano in the entire Italian repertory.

This composer died at the village of Puteaux, France, September 23, 1835, soon after the highly successful production of “I Puritani” in Paris, and while he was working on a commission to compose two operas for the San Carlo Theatre, Naples, which had come to him through the success of “Puritani.” He was only thirty-two.

It is not unlikely that had this composer, with his facile and graceful gift for melody, lived longer he would have developed, as Verdi did, a maturer and broader style, and especially have paid more attention to the instrumentation of his operas, a detail which he sadly neglected.

LA SONNAMBULA

THE SLEEPWALKER

Opera in three acts by Bellini, words by Felice Romani. Produced, Carcano Theatre, Milan, March 6, 1831. London, King’s Theatre, July 28, 1831; in English, Drury Lane, May 1, 1833. New York, Park Theatre, November 13, 1835, in English, with Brough, Richings, and Mr. and Mrs. Wood; in Italian, Palmo’s Opera House, May 11, 1844; frequently sung by Gerster and by Adelina Patti at the Academy of Music, and at the Metropolitan Opera House by Sembrich; at the Manhattan Opera House by Tetrazzini.

CHARACTERS

COUNT RODOLPHO, Lord of the castle	Bass
TERESA, proprietress of the mill	Soprano
AMINA, her foster daughter	Soprano
LISA, proprietress of the village inn	Soprano
ELVINO, a young farmer	Tenor
ALESSIO, a villager	Bass

Notary, Villagers, etc.

Time—Early Nineteenth Century.

Place—A Village in Switzerland.

Act I. The village green. On one side an inn. In the background a water mill. In the distance mountains. As the curtain rises the villagers are making merry, for they are about to celebrate a nuptial contract between Amina, an orphan brought up as the foster child of Teresa, the mistress of the village mill, and Elvino, a young landowner of the neighbourhood. These preparations, however, fill with jealousy the heart of Lisa, the proprietress of the inn. For she is in love with Elvino. Nor do Alessio’s ill-timed attentions please her. Amina enters under the care of Teresa, and returns her thanks to her neighbours for their good wishes. She has two attractive solos. These are “Come per me sereno” (How, for me brightly shining)

and “Sovia il sen la man mi posa” (With this heart its joy revealing).

Both are replete with grace and charm.

When the village Notary and Elvino appear the contract is signed and attested, and Elvino places a ring on Amina’s finger. Duet: “Prendi l’avel ta dono” (Take now the ring I give you), a composition in long-flowing expressive measures.

Then the village is startled by the crack of whips and the rumble of wheels. A handsome stranger in officer’s fatigue uniform appears. He desires to have his horses watered and fed, before he proceeds to the castle. The road is bad, night is approaching. Counselled by the villagers, and urged by Lisa, the officer consents to remain the night at the inn.

The villagers know it not at this time, but the officer is Rodolpho, the lord...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• A History of The Theatre
• Content
• Vincenzo Bellini: (1802–1835)