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Vincenzo Salvatore Carmelo Francesco Bellini
(November 3, 1801 – September 23, 1835) was
an Italy|Italian opera composer. Foremost a
lyricist, Bellini was the quintessential composer
of Bel canto opera.

==Life==

Born in Catania, Sicily, Italy, Bellini was a
child prodigy and legend has it he could sing an
air of Fioravanti at eighteen months, began
studying music theory at two, the piano at three,
and by the age of five could play well. His first
composition dates from his sixth year. Regardless
of the veracity of these claims, it is certain
that Bellini grew up in a musical household and
that a career as a musician was never in doubt.


Bellini died in Puteaux, near Paris, and was
buried next to Frederic Chopin and Luigi Cherubini
in Pere Lachaise.

==Works==

Bellini is best known for his opera Norma
(opera)|Norma, the title role of which is
considered the most difficult role in the soprano
repertoire. During the 20th century, only a small
number of singers were able to assay it with
success: Rosa Ponselle in the early 1920s, later
Joan Sutherland in the 1950s and 1960s. Maria
Callas was the famous Norma of the postwar period;
she performed it many times and recorded it twice.

==Operas==

* Adelson e Salvini (12.2.1825 Teatro del
Conservatorio di S. Sebastiano, Naples) 
* Bianca e Gernando (30.5.1826 Teatro San Carlo,
Naples) 
* Il pirata (27.10.1827 Teatro alla Scala, Milan) 
* Bianca e Fernando (7.4.1828 Teatro Carlo Felice,
Genoa) rev of Bianca e Gernando 
* La straniera (14.2.1829 Teatro alla Scala,
Milan) 
* Zaira (16.5.1829 Teatro Ducale, Parma) 
* I Capuleti e i Montecchi (11.3.1830 Teatro La
Fenice, Venice) 
* La sonnambula (6.3.1831 Teatro Carcano, Milan) 
* Norma (opera)|Norma (26.12.1831 Teatro alla
Scala, Milan) 
* Beatrice di Tenda (16.3.1833 Teatro La Fenice,
Venice) 
* I Puritani|I puritani di Scozia (24.1.1835
Théâtre Italien, Paris)

== Other important Bel Canto opera composers ==
Commons|Vincenzo Bellini|Vincenzo Bellini
*Gioacchino Rossini
*Gaetano Donizetti