Master of Bel Canto: Vicnenzo Bellini

Many composers contributed to the era of what is now referred to as Bel Canto Opera, composer Vincenzo Bellini is considered to the master of the genre. He took advantage of the technique singers were developing their voices with and wrote music that showcased everything a singer could do with that technique. His melodies are celebrated for their lyrical beauty and flowing lines but his music doesn't come without a cost. Bellini's arias can be technically daunting but when mastered they can showcase remarkable agility and artful mastering of the human voice.

Bellini operas were a staple of famous singers like Joan Sutherland and Maria Callas and that heritage is continued today by singers like Joyce DiDonato, Diana Damrau and Cecilia Bartoli.

Listen to Casta Diva as sung by the incomparable, Monserrat Caballe here:

https://youtu.be/wvBuCLjByaE?si=2XwUwT08wPW7KkSC