Septembre 23, 2022
Each week, discover one of the members of the Network of Houses and Museums of European Musicians. These places link the past, present and future, they honor a tangible and intangible heritage and fulfill an essential cultural purpose in Europe. This week, we invite you to discover the House of the great Italian romantic composer Vincenzo Bellini in Catania, the capital of the eponymous province is also a partner of the network.
He died at the age of 33, on September 23, 1835. This apostle of bel canto composed La Somnambule and Norma in 1831, considered to be two of his greatest works. These operas gave him immense fame among his contemporaries. They also left an indelible mark on the history of music. Maria Malibran, sister of Pauline Viardot, triumphed in these operas of Bellini. She developed an intense friendship with the composer. The latter, dazzled by the beauty and personality of the musician, plans to compose an opera for her. This project does not see the light of day because of the premature death of Bellini. Maria Malibran died a year after the composer in a tragic accident. Years later, Pauline Viardot, in her period as a singer, made her mark by taking on the same role as her late sister: that of Norma. "Norma" was one of the last words spoken by the great musician just before her death on May 18, 1910.
Maria Callas sings "Casta Diva" (Bellini: Norma, Act 1) at the Palais Garnier in Paris.
The tour of Bellini's birthplace, a national monument for nearly a century, allows us to follow the evolution of the composer's life and early career. He began playing the piano at the age of three and composed cantatas and ariettas at the age of six before entering the San Sebastian Conservatory in Naples. After a rich career in Italy, he chose to settle in France.
The Vincenzo Bellini house and museum in Catania, Sicily..
In 1833 the composer took up residence in Puteaux in a villa near the Seine, as Bizet would do later in the 19th century: "Bellini arrived in Paris shortly after the failure of Beatrice de Tende, and spent the last two years of his life there. He met Chopin and Rossini, and in January 1834 received a commission from the Théâtre Italien (the Salle Favart). This was to be I Puritani (The Puritans), on a libretto by Carlo Pepoli adapted from a French play Têtes rondes et cavaliers. The arias composed for the soprano Giulia Grisi are stunning in their melodic beauty: the premiere in January 1835 was a triumph," as journalist Philippe Hussenot recounts in a 2018 article on the composer published on Radio Classique. It was in Puteaux (today the Bellini district of La Défense) that he died of dysentery at the height of his fame, aged just 33. Initially buried in the Père Lachaise cemetery, where a mausoleum still exists, his remains were transferred to Catania, his native town, 40 years after his death. His death mask is on display in the house where he was born.
In Catania, visitors enter the Bellini House through a small entrance leading to the alcove where, on the night of 2 to 3 November 1801, the musician was born. Their journey will then lead them to discover numerous objects that belonged to him, as well as manuscripts by the artist and original scores, period engravings, photographs and pianos.
I Puritani (The Puritans) is Bellini's last opera. It was composed in Paris. It was so successful that Bellini was made a knight of the Legion of Honour by the French king, Louis Philippe.
After a long period of renovation, the museum has been redesigned and expanded. The ground floor is now used for exhibitions. It is here that visitors can, for example, admire the prestigious collection of pianos that were used to play some of Bellini's operas. The museum also houses a rich library and a multimedia area.
A pictorial tour of the Bellini House.
Every year, the city of Catania also hosts the festival dedicated to the great musician. The 14th edition begins on 23 September and ends at the beginning of November. It is punctuated by numerous performances and exhibitions as well as an international competition of lyrical voices which will take place in Puteaux (France) on the next 6 November.
More about the Bellini House in Catania
The Bellini Festival website: www.bellini-festival.org
Septembre 23, 2022
Each week, discover one of the members of the Network of Houses and Museums of European Musicians. These places link the past, present and future, they honor a tangible and intangible heritage and fulfill an essential cultural purpose in Europe. This week, we invite you to discover the House of the great Italian romantic composer Vincenzo Bellini in Catania, the capital of the eponymous province is also a partner of the network.
He died at the age of 33, on September 23, 1835. This apostle of bel canto composed La Somnambule and Norma in 1831, considered to be two of his greatest works. These operas gave him immense fame among his contemporaries. They also left an indelible mark on the history of music. Maria Malibran, sister of Pauline Viardot, triumphed in these operas of Bellini. She developed an intense friendship with the composer. The latter, dazzled by the beauty and personality of the musician, plans to compose an opera for her. This project does not see the light of day because of the premature death of Bellini. Maria Malibran died a year after the composer in a tragic accident. Years later, Pauline Viardot, in her period as a singer, made her mark by taking on the same role as her late sister: that of Norma. "Norma" was one of the last words spoken by the great musician just before her death on May 18, 1910.
Maria Callas sings "Casta Diva" (Bellini: Norma, Act 1) at the Palais Garnier in Paris.
The tour of Bellini's birthplace, a national monument for nearly a century, allows us to follow the evolution of the composer's life and early career. He began playing the piano at the age of three and composed cantatas and ariettas at the age of six before entering the San Sebastian Conservatory in Naples. After a rich career in Italy, he chose to settle in France.
The Vincenzo Bellini house and museum in Catania, Sicily..
In 1833 the composer took up residence in Puteaux in a villa near the Seine, as Bizet would do later in the 19th century: "Bellini arrived in Paris shortly after the failure of Beatrice de Tende, and spent the last two years of his life there. He met Chopin and Rossini, and in January 1834 received a commission from the Théâtre Italien (the Salle Favart). This was to be I Puritani (The Puritans), on a libretto by Carlo Pepoli adapted from a French play Têtes rondes et cavaliers. The arias composed for the soprano Giulia Grisi are stunning in their melodic beauty: the premiere in January 1835 was a triumph," as journalist Philippe Hussenot recounts in a 2018 article on the composer published on Radio Classique. It was in Puteaux (today the Bellini district of La Défense) that he died of dysentery at the height of his fame, aged just 33. Initially buried in the Père Lachaise cemetery, where a mausoleum still exists, his remains were transferred to Catania, his native town, 40 years after his death. His death mask is on display in the house where he was born.
In Catania, visitors enter the Bellini House through a small entrance leading to the alcove where, on the night of 2 to 3 November 1801, the musician was born. Their journey will then lead them to discover numerous objects that belonged to him, as well as manuscripts by the artist and original scores, period engravings, photographs and pianos.
I Puritani (The Puritans) is Bellini's last opera. It was composed in Paris. It was so successful that Bellini was made a knight of the Legion of Honour by the French king, Louis Philippe.
After a long period of renovation, the museum has been redesigned and expanded. The ground floor is now used for exhibitions. It is here that visitors can, for example, admire the prestigious collection of pianos that were used to play some of Bellini's operas. The museum also houses a rich library and a multimedia area.
A pictorial tour of the Bellini House.
Every year, the city of Catania also hosts the festival dedicated to the great musician. The 14th edition begins on 23 September and ends at the beginning of November. It is punctuated by numerous performances and exhibitions as well as an international competition of lyrical voices which will take place in Puteaux (France) on the next 6 November.
More about the Bellini House in Catania
The Bellini Festival website: www.bellini-festival.org
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