Vincenzo Bellini, Italian composer: biography, creativity

Vincenzo Bellini - a brilliant continuer of the traditions of the opera bel canto - lived a short but very productive life. He left 11 magnificent works, amazing with their melody and harmony. "Norma," an opera he wrote at age 30, is today in the top 10 of the most popular classical works.

Childhood

The family of Bellini in several generations was associated with music. The grandfather of the future world-famous opera author, Vincenzo Tobio, was a composer and organist, father of Rosario - the head of the chapel and composer, gave music lessons in the aristocratic families of Sicily 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 here there was love and creativity.

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 wrote his own work - the church anthem of Tantum ergo. But there was no possibility to give it to a music school, so he continued to study with his grandfather until he was 14 years old. By this age, Vincenzo was already a local celebrity.

His fate was interested in the Duchess Eleanore Sammartino, who achieved the fact 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. Within a year he brilliantly passed the interim exam, which defined those who will continue training and who will not. Vincenzo was not only left in the school, but also transferred to free education, which allowed him to free the city's funds, help his family and learn more due to his talent.

In the conservatory, Bellini studied with the outstanding teacher Dzingarelli, who was very strict with the young man and always advised him to practice the melody. During the years of study, he forced the student to write more than 400 solfeggio. In 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 withstands the next exam. The reward for this was not only improved living conditions, but also the opportunity to visit the opera twice a week.

During his studies he first heard the Italian operas, which made an indelible impression on him. After listening to Rossini's "Semiramide", he for some time lost faith in his abilities, but soon he recovered and took the work of the great predecessor as a challenge. He began working on his first opera "Adelson and Salvini" for the French novel Arno. In 1825, it was delivered by the forces of students and was quite a big success. This opera was listened to by Donizetti and gave the work and its author a very high rating. Graduation exam from the conservatory Bellini hands, as always, brilliantly and as a reward receives a contract for writing an opera for the theater.

First order

After passing the final exam, Bellini receives permission to teach, and in return he is given the opportunity to write an opera for the royal theater. He was given complete freedom of choice, and he dwelled on the text of the young author Domenico Gilardoni "Carlo, Duke of Agrigento", who created the libretto "Bianca and Gernando." Italian operas at the time was the most fashionable spectacle, the premiere was going to the whole world. The audience was quite demanding, and it was not easy to please, but the premiere of Bellini's opera was met with delight. May 30, 1826 in the theater "San Carlo" premiered his opera, and even the king, contrary to tradition, stood up and slapped the author. Dzingarelli was overwhelmed with pride for his student and foretold him a great future.

"Pirate"

Success provided the novice composer with a new order. The manager of the royal theaters offers Vincenzo to write an opera for Milan's La Scala. Composing music becomes the only source of income for Bellini, he lives in Milan and is working on a new opera, which the audience is looking forward to. On this project there was a tandem of the composer and librettist Felice Romani, who existed until the end of the creative path of the musician. In the "Pirate" showed a unique style of Vincenzo Bellini, his arias and vocalises are very melodic, and the actors do not just sing, but convey the feelings of the character. October 27, 1827 experienced Milanese audience ovations rewarded the debutant. For each next show were sold out and challenges the author. All this inspired the composer.

"The Stranger"

A year after the success of the "Pirate" theater "La Scala" orders Bellini new opera. As a literary basis, the composer uses the novel of Arlencourt. His plot is ideal for opera bel canto. The Milan audience was eagerly awaiting the premiere of a new piece of the already beloved composer. In 1829 the opera was presented to the audience. She fully met expectations and showed already a mature master. The success was enormous. In the "Stranger" Bellini showed many features of his unique style and several original musical solutions were presented. Barcarola had an innovative stage decision that shocked the audience.

Somnambula

In 1831, on the stage of the Milanese theater "Carcano" appears a new work of Belinia - "Somnambula". The premiere was a triumph. Master confidently uses his innovative techniques in music and stage solutions. In "Somnambula" he continues his favorite theme - experiences and passions. Critics' reviews of this opera are full of enthusiasm, they are already using the word "masterpiece" everywhere, evaluating the work of the composer. "Somnambulu" is distinguished by harmonious integrity, logical development of the plot and tender melody. She became the embodiment of a new opera bel canto.

"Norm"

In the same year of 1831 appeared "Norma", an opera that glorified Bellini. However, contemporaries took it quite cool. Only the famous Cavatina "Casta Diva" was greeted with a standing ovation. In this work the composer embodied all his best practices and techniques. It is the creation of a mature master. The main aria of "Casta Diva" is still one of the most difficult soprano parts in the world. Despite the weak prime success, the opera was waiting for a happy fate. After a few shows Milanese audience changed their anger at mercy and applauded the maestro. "Norma" Vincenzo Bellini is a recognized classic of world culture, it is among the most frequently performed operas. In it, he was able to achieve an absolute harmony of music and plot.

Puritans

Vincenzo Bellini, whose biography is closely connected with his work, lived his works, each of which was for him a certain stage. His last opera, The Puritans, was never thought of by the author as a work that ended his career. The literary source for the libretto was the novel by V. Scott. The premiere took place on January 25, 1835 in Paris and became a significant event of the French cultural life. The success was so significant that Bellini was awarded an audience with the royal family and awarded the Order of the Legion of Honor.

Opera heritage

In total for his life, the composer wrote 11 operas, not all of them were successful. So, "Zaire" for V. Scott was not particularly successful. The reason for this is too tight deadlines reserved for work, and difficulties with the libretto. A similar fate awaited the opera "Beatrice di Trend" in the tragedy of K. Forez. The main operas of Vincenzo Bellini: "Norma", "The Stranger", "Somnambula", "Puritans" - still successfully work in different theaters of the world. The name of the composer stands in line with such great Italians as Rossini and Donizetti. And Casta Diva Vincenzo Bellini became a real exam for all the vocalists of the world. This test is performed only by the best singers. 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 their vocals in this role.

The musical style of Vincenzo Bellini

The composer entered the history of music as the greatest master of Italian bel canto. His work is distinguished by exquisite melody, notes of folk Neapolitan and Sicilian songs. His innovation manifested itself in the melodization of recitative. Before this, no one did. He sought to balance the realism of the events depicted, the melody and deep feelings of the characters. His work influenced composers such as Wagner and Chopin.

Private life

Vincenzo Bellini lived a short life, but she was extremely saturated. He always worked very hard. So, he rewrote Norma's aria six times, but at the same time managed to live a full life. Even while studying in Naples, Vincenzo started an affair with the daughter of one of the teachers at the College of Music, he was even ready to marry a girl, but her parents were against it. Although later they changed their mind, the marriage never took place. The growing 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 with the married lady Judith Turin. The novel between them lasted five years, it was a story full of tears, dramas, jealousy, even scandals. Later he will call this bond hell.

During his life, Bellini had time to work in Milan, Venice, Paris, London. Most of his creative life he spent in Milan. The city gave him everything: love, fame, prosperity. The last two years he lived in Paris, trying to win the French audience. During his lifetime, the composer had several high-ranking patrons who contributed to his career.

Hard work undermined the composer's health. At the end of the summer of 1835, he is much ill and on September 22 dies of inflammation of the intestine. He was originally buried in Paris, but later ashes were transported to Sicily.