Vincenzo Bellini - a brilliant follower of the traditions of the opera Belcanto - lived a short but very productive life. He left 11 magnificent works, striking in their melody and harmony. Norma, an opera he wrote when he was 30, is today in the top 10 most popular classical works.
Childhood
The Bellini family has been associated with music for generations. The grandfather of the future world famous opera author, Vincenzo Tobio, was a composer and organist, Rosario's father - chapel leader and composer, gave music lessons in the aristocratic families of Sicilian Catania. Vincenzo Bellini was born on November 3, 1801. From an early age, he began to demonstrate musical abilities. The family was not particularly wealthy, but love and creativity reigned here.
Years of study
From the age of five, Vincenzo Bellini began to learn to play the piano, his grandfather became his mentor. Already at the age of seven, the boy writes his own work - the church anthem Tantum ergo. But it was not possible to send him to a music school, so until the age of 14 he continued to study with his grandfather. By this age, Vincenzo was already a local celebrity.
The Duchess of Eleanor Sammartino became interested in his fate, who ensured that the young man was given a scholarship to study at the Conservatory of Naples, and in June 1819 the young man was enrolled in the first year. A year later, he brilliantly passed the intermediate exam, which determined those who would continue to study and who would not. Vincenzo was not only left at the educational institution, but also transferred to free education, which allowed him to free the city’s funds, help his family and continue to study thanks to his talent.
At the conservatory, Bellini studied with the outstanding teacher Dzingarelli, who was very strict with the young man and always advised him to practice melody. Over the years of study, he forced the student to write more than 400 solfeggio. At the Conservatory, Bellini meets his future best friend Mercadante and future biographer - Florimo. Years of study had a serious impact on the young man, then his original musical style is formed. In 1824, the young man again brilliantly passes the next exam. The reward for this was not only the improvement of living conditions, but also the opportunity to attend the opera for free twice a week.
During his studies, he first heard Italian operas that made a lasting impression on him. After listening to Rossini’s Semiramis, he lost faith in his abilities for a while, but soon perked up and perceived the work of his great predecessor as a challenge. He began working on his first opera Adelson and Salvini, based on the French novel Arnault. In 1825, it was staged by students and was quite a big success. Donizetti listened to this opera and praised the work and its author. The final exam from the Bellini Conservatory passes, as always, brilliantly and receives a contract for writing an opera for the theater as a reward.
First order
After passing the final exam, Bellini gets permission to teach, and as a reward he is given the opportunity to write an opera for the royal theater. He was given complete freedom of choice, and he settled on the text of the young author Domenico Gilardoni “Carlo, Duke of Agrigento”, who created the libretto “Bianca and Gernando”. Italian opera at that time was the most fashionable sight, the whole world was going to premieres. The audience was quite demanding, and it was not easy to please her, but the premiere of Bellini's opera was greeted with enthusiasm. On May 30, 1826, the premiere of his opera took place at the San Carlo Theater, and even the king himself, contrary to tradition, stood up and clapped the author. Zingarelli was overwhelmed with pride for his student and predicted a great future for him.
"Pirate"
Success provided the aspiring composer with a new order. The manager of the royal theaters suggests Vincenzo to write an opera for Milan's La Scala. Composing music becomes for Bellini the only source of income; he lives in Milan and works on a new opera, which the audience is looking forward to. On this project, the tandem of the composer and librettist Felice Romani formed, which lasted until the end of the musician’s career. In "Pirate" Vincenzo Bellini's unique style was manifested, his arias and vocals are very melodic, and the actors not only sing, but convey the character's feelings. On October 27, 1827, the sophisticated Milanese public applauded the newcomer. For each subsequent show, there were sold out and calls of the author. All this inspired the composer.
"Alien"
A year after the success of The Pirate, the La Scala Theater orders Bellini a new opera. As a literary basis, the composer uses the Arlencourt novel. Its plot is perfect for Belcanto opera. The Milan public was looking forward to the premiere of a new work by the already beloved composer. In 1829, the opera was presented to the audience. She fully lived up to expectations and showed already a mature master. The success was tremendous. In Bellini's Alien, many features of his unique style were revealed and several original musical solutions were presented. Barcarole had an innovative stage solution that shocked the audience.
Somnambulist
In 1831, a new work by Belini, Somnambula, appeared on the stage of the Milan Carcano theater. The premiere was a triumph. The master confidently uses his innovative techniques in music and stage solutions. In Somnambul, he continues his favorite topic - emotions and passions. Critics' comments on this opera are full of enthusiasm, they already use the word "masterpiece" everywhere when evaluating the work of the composer. “Somnambulu” is distinguished by harmonious integrity, logical development of the plot and gentle melody. She became the embodiment of the new Belcanto opera.
"Norm"
In the same 1831, Norma appeared, an opera that glorified Bellini. However, contemporaries accepted it rather coolly. Only the famous caste "Casta Diva" was greeted with applause. In this work, the composer embodied all his best practices and techniques. She is the creation of a mature master. The title aria "Casta Diva" is still one of the most difficult soprano parties in the world. Despite the weak premiere success, the opera was waiting for a happy fate. After just a few shows, the Milanese public changed their anger to mercy and applauded the maestro. The Norma by Vincenzo Bellini is a recognized classic of world culture; it is one of the most frequently performed operas. In it, he was able to achieve the absolute harmony of music and plot.
The Puritans
Vincenzo Bellini, whose biography is closely related to his work, lived with his works, each of which was a certain stage for him. His last opera - Puritans - was not conceived by the author as a work ending his career. The literary source for the libretto was W. Scott's novel. The premiere took place on January 25, 1835 in Paris and became a significant event in French cultural life. The success was so significant that Bellini was awarded an audience with the royal family and was awarded the Legion of Honor.
Opera heritage
In total, the composer wrote 11 operas in his life, not all of them were successful. So, “Zaire” according to W. Scott was not particularly successful. The reason for this is too tight deadlines for work, and difficulties with the libretto. A similar fate awaited the opera Beatrice di Trenda after the tragedy of C. Fores. The main operas of Vincenzo Bellini: Norma, Alien, Somnambula, Puritans - are still successfully performed in various theaters in the world. The name of the composer is on a par with such great Italians as Rossini and Donizetti. And Casta Diva Vincenzo Bellini was a real exam for all the vocalists of the world. Only the best singers pass this test. The most famous performer of the role of Norma was Maria Callas, she performed her record number of times - 89. Modern opera stars Montserrat Caballe and Anna Netrebko also shine with their vocals in this role.
Musical Style Vincenzo Bellini
The composer entered the history of music as the largest master of Italian belcanto. His work is distinguished by exquisite melody, notes of folk Neapolitan and Sicilian songs. His innovation was manifested in the melody of recitations. Nobody did this before him. He sought to balance the realism of the depicted events, the melody and the deep feelings of the characters. His work has influenced composers such as Wagner and Chopin.
Private life
Vincenzo Bellini lived a short life, but it was extremely eventful. He always worked very hard. So, he copied Norma’s aria six times, but at the same time managed to live a full life. Even while studying in Naples, Vincenzo made an affair with the daughter of one of the teachers of the music college, he was even ready to marry the girl, but her parents were against it. Although they later changed their minds, the marriage never took place. The increasing fame made the composer very attractive to women. He is credited with a considerable number of novels, with which he was inspired for creativity. In 1828, he met a married lady, Judith Turin. The romance between them lasted five years, it was a story full of tears, dramas, jealousy, even scandals. He will later call this connection hell.
During his life, Bellini managed to work in Milan, Venice, Paris, London. He spent most of his creative life in Milan. The city gave him everything: love, glory, prosperity. The last two years he lived in Paris, trying to conquer the French public. Throughout his life, the composer had several senior patrons who contributed to his career.
Hard work undermined the composer's health. At the end of the summer of 1835, he was ill a lot and died on September 22 from intestinal inflammation. He was originally buried in Paris, but later the ashes were transported to Sicily.