The concert is dedicated to a single theme—bel canto. We will focus on the three most brilliant composers of this style: Bellini, Rossini, and Donizetti.
Let us recall what bel canto means. In Italian, it translates as "beautiful singing." Originally, this term referred to a special vocal technique—lightness and flexibility of the voice, the ability to carry long phrases and perform virtuosic passages while preserving the beauty of tone on every note. The main goal of bel canto is not power or loudness, but beauty of sound.
Over time, it evolved from a technique into a whole stylistic movement in 19th-century opera. Bel canto is characterized by clear, singable melodies and simple forms where the voice is always at the center. The orchestra mainly supports, with all the drama unfolding in the vocal line. Bellini created endlessly flowing melodies, Rossini dazzled with rhythm and virtuosity, and Donizetti was able to express the subtlest human feelings through the voice.
Today, we have heard how each of them embodied the idea of “beautiful singing” in their own unique way, and why bel canto has remained beloved by audiences for two centuries. We chose not to stick strictly to chronology, but to create our own dramatic arc, connecting various shades of music. Yet, it turned out that the main theme of the evening is love. Yes, it is an eternal theme, but it has always been at the heart of opera and has inspired composers throughout all ages.
Gaetano Donizetti
“Prendi, per me sei libero” / “Take it, I give you your freedom”
Adina’s Aria from the opera L'elisir d’amore (The Elixir of Love)
Throughout the opera, the proud country girl Adina behaves playfully and teases the simple-hearted Nemorino, not taking him seriously. Everything changes, however, when she discovers that he has joined the army and is ready to leave the village for her sake. In the aria “Prendi, per me sei libero,” Adina gives him back the contract she has bought for him and asks him not to leave. There is not yet an open confession in her words, but her actions clearly show that the fear of separation and awakened tenderness have changed her feelings for the young man.
Vincenzo Bellini
“Eccomi, in lieta vesta… Oh! quante volte” / “Here I am, in festive dress… Oh! how many times”
Juliet’s scene from the opera I Capuleti e i Montecchi
In this scene, Juliet appears in her wedding attire. It should symbolize happiness, but for her it does not: she feels like a victim being led to the altar since she is being married off against her will. However, despite her despair, thoughts of Romeo bring her both joy and hope. Juliet prays and dreams of seeing him, even if only in her dreams.
Gaetano Donizetti
“Convien partir” / “It’s time to leave”
Maria’s Aria from the opera La fille du régiment (The Daughter of the Regiment)
Marie grew up among the soldiers of a French regiment who became her family. One day, however, her real relatives appear, and she is forced to leave the life she is used to and enter the world of strict aristocratic rules. In the aria “It’s time to leave,” she bids farewell to the soldiers. Her words express both the pain of separation and gratitude to those who have been by her side since childhood.
Al dolce guidami / “Lead me to my sweet native castle”
Anna’s scene from the opera Anna Bolena
Anne Boleyn is unjustly accused of treason. Her husband, King Henry VIII, has fallen in love with another woman. Anne is imprisoned and sentenced to death. In her desperation and confusion, she turns to her servant and asks to be taken back to the castle where she was once happy: her childhood home, the place of her first love, which she lost for the sake of the throne.
Vincenzo Bellini
“Ah, non credea mirarti” / “Ah, I never thought I’d see you”
Amina’s Aria from the opera La sonnambula
The theme of infidelity is common in opera, but in the case of our next heroine, the story has a much happier ending. Here is Amina’s aria from Bellini’s La sonnambula. Amina is the adopted daughter of a miller’s wife. She suffers from sleepwalking and sometimes wanders through the house at night, though no one knows this. One night, she is found in a visitor’s room and falsely accused of infidelity. In the aria “Ah, I never thought I’d see you so soon withered, oh flower…” Amina sings in her sleep. In her hands is the withered flower, a gift from her beloved, and she believes he has turned away from her.
Vaga luna che inargenti / “Lovely moon, you who shed silver light…”
Art song (Aria da camera)
In this arietta, the protagonist confides his feelings to the moon—the only witness of his love and longing for his distant beloved. He asks the moon to tell her that separation does not ease his pain and that each day is lived in anticipation of reunion. Bellini’s music here is simple and lyrical. It is not a dramatic scene; rather, it is a quiet, sincere confession of love, expressed in a beautiful melody.
Gioachino Rossini
“Assisa al piè d’un salice” / “Sitting at the foot of a willow tree”
Desdemona’s scene from the opera Otello
Desdemona, sensing her fate, is in her room. To distract herself, she sings the sorrowful “Willow Song,” which has become a symbol of unrequited and unhappy love.
To conclude the concert, another piece by Rossini was performed:
“La pastorella delle Alpi” / “The Shepherdess of the Alps”
from the cycle Soirées musicales.
In contrast to the dramatic scenes that preceded it, this piece is full of light and joy. In this song, the shepherdess flirts and sings of the pleasures of being in love. There is no suffering or tragedy here; rather, Rossini’s music conveys freshness, lightness, and harmony with nature. We wanted to end our evening with a reminder that love brings us not only trials, but also the most beautiful emotions that make our lives vivid and full.