Bellini's Diva
Donald Macleod focuses on Bellini's lifelong friendship with the famous Italian soprano Giuditta Pasta, for whom he created the operatic roles of Amina and Norma.
In 1830, Bellini formed a lifelong friendship with famous Italian soprano Giuditta Pasta. He went on to create the roles of Amina (La Sonnambula), and Norma specifically for her.
Bellini's tragic opera, Norma, is often considered his masterpiece and contains one of the most famous arias of the 19th century: Casta Diva. It was an aria that, originally, Giuditta Pasta refused to sing! We hear a large extract from this opera that includes Casta Diva, performed by Maria Callas. We also hear an example of Bellini's coloratura fireworks in an aria and duet from La Sonnambula (The Sleepwalker).
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Music Played
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Vincenzo Bellini
Norma - Guerra, guerra! [chorus]
Performer: Orchestra of La Scala, Milan. Singer: Maria Callas. Singer: Nicola Rossi‐Lemeni. Conductor: Tullio Serafin.- NAXOS 811032527.
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Vincenzo Bellini
Norma - Act 2 sc.3; Guerra, guerra! [chorus]
Performer: Orchestra of La Scala, Milan. Singer: Maria Callas. Singer: Nicola Rossi‐Lemeni. Conductor: Tullio Serafin.- NAXOS 811032527.
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- 9.
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Vincenzo Bellini
Norma - Act 2 sc.3; Guerra, guerra! [chorus]
Performer: Orchestra of La Scala, Milan. Singer: Maria Callas. Singer: Nicola Rossi‐Lemeni. Conductor: Tullio Serafin.- NAXOS 811032527.
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Vincenzo Bellini
La Sonnambula - Prendi, l'anel ti dono
Singer: Cecilia Bartoli. Singer: Juan Diego Flórez. Orchestra: Orchestra La Scintilla. Director: Alessandro De Marchi.- L`OISEAU LYRE : 478-108.
- L`OISEAU LYRE.
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Vincenzo Bellini
La Sonnambula - Act 1; Prendi, l'anel ti dono
Singer: Cecilia Bartoli. Singer: Juan Diego Flórez. Orchestra: Orchestra La Scintilla. Director: Alessandro De Marchi.- L`OISEAU LYRE : 478-108.
- L`OISEAU LYRE.
- 10.
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Vincenzo Bellini
La Sonnambula - Act 1; Prendi, l'anel ti dono
Singer: Cecilia Bartoli. Singer: Juan Diego Flórez. Orchestra: Orchestra La Scintilla. Director: Alessandro De Marchi.- L`OISEAU LYRE : 478-108.
- L`OISEAU LYRE.
- 10.
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Vincenzo Bellini
La Sonnambula - Ah! Non giunge
Singer: Cecilia Bartoli. Singer: Juan Diego Flórez. Orchestra: Orchestra La Scintilla. Director: Alessandro De Marchi.- L`OISEAU LYRE : 478-108.
- L`OISEAU LYRE.
- 10.
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Vincenzo Bellini
La Sonnambula - Act 2 sc.2; Ah! Non giunge
Singer: Cecilia Bartoli. Singer: Juan Diego Flórez. Orchestra: Orchestra La Scintilla. Director: Alessandro De Marchi.- L`OISEAU LYRE : 478-108.
- L`OISEAU LYRE.
- 10.
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Vincenzo Bellini
La Sonnambula - Act 2 sc.2; Ah! Non giunge
Singer: Cecilia Bartoli. Singer: Juan Diego Flórez. Orchestra: Orchestra La Scintilla. Director: Alessandro De Marchi.- L`OISEAU LYRE : 478-108.
- L`OISEAU LYRE.
- 10.
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Vincenzo Bellini
Vaga luna che inargenti
Performer: James Levine. Singer: Cecilia Bartoli.- DECCA : 455 513-2-.
- DECCA.
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Vincenzo Bellini
Vaga Luna Che Inargenti - Arietta For Voice And Piano
Performer: James Levine. Singer: Cecilia Bartoli.- DECCA : 455 513-2-.
- DECCA.
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Vincenzo Bellini
Vaga Luna Che Inargenti - Arietta For Voice And Piano
Performer: James Levine. Singer: Cecilia Bartoli.- DECCA : 455 513-2-.
- DECCA.
- 2.
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Vincenzo Bellini
Norma - Act 1;
Performer: Orchestra of La Scala, Milan. Singer: Maria Callas. Singer: Nicola Rossi‐Lemeni. Conductor: Tullio Serafin.- NAXOS 811032527.
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- 9.
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Vincenzo Bellini
Norma- Act 1 - Sediziose voci...Vieni in Roma (including arias Casta Diva & Va, crudele
Performer: Orchestra of La Scala, Milan. Singer: Maria Callas. Singer: Nicola Rossi‐Lemeni. Conductor: Tullio Serafin.- NAXOS 811032527.
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- 3.
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Vincenzo Bellini
Norma- Act 1 - Sediziose voci...Vieni in Roma (including arias Casta Diva & Va, crudele
Performer: Orchestra of La Scala, Milan. Singer: Maria Callas. Singer: Nicola Rossi‐Lemeni. Conductor: Tullio Serafin.- NAXOS 811032527.
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Broadcasts
- Thu 24 Sep 201512:00BBC Radio 3
- Thu 24 Sep 201518:30BBC Radio 3
- Thu 26 Oct 201712:00BBC Radio 3
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