Person
Vincenzo Bellini
Catania, Sicily, Italy
Vincenzo Salvatore Bellini was born on November 2, 1801 in Catania, Sicily, Italy. He was the first of seven children in a musical family. His grandfather gave him first piano l…
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Vincenzo Salvatore Bellini was born on November 2, 1801 in Catania, Sicily, Italy. He was the first of seven children in a musical family. His grandfather gave him first piano lessons at the age of 3, and at the age of 5 young Bellini could play good piano to an audience. His first composition dates from around that age. He was granted a scholarship from the municipal government of Catania to study music at the Conservatory of Naples. Bellini studied under composer Niccolo Zingarelli and a vocal teacher Girolamo Crescenti. His fellow student soprano Isabella Colbrani eventually became his wife. Bellini's graduation opera "Adelson e Salvini" generated a commission from the Royal court. Impresario Domenico Barbaja secured a commission for Bellini's opera for La Scala in Milan. "Il Pirata" started Bellini's fruitful partnership with the librettist Felice Romani, who complemented Bellini's flowing serpentine vocal lines with meticulously chosen words. Their tandem created 7 Bel canto operas in about six years. In Paris Bellini received a commission from the Theatre Italien for "Il Puritani", which he composed on the libretto by Count Carlo Pepoli. It became a triumph over his competitor Gaetano Donizetti. Bellini was recognized by the leading cultural figures of his time; Franz Liszt, Mikhail Glinka, Frédéric Chopin, George Sand, Alfred de Musset, Victor Hugo and Alexandre Dumas père, among others. Heinrich Heine was fond of Bellini's works; But he predicted that Bellini will die, like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Raphael, at the hight of his genius. Bellini died of peritonitis on September 23, 1835, in Paris, France, and was laid to rest in the cemetery of Pere Lachaise in Paris. In 1876 his remains were moved to the cathedral of his native town of Catania, Italy. Bellini's opera "Norma" became a hallmark of the Bel canto style. It was premiered on December 26, 1831 at the La Scala, Milan, and initially had a cool reception on its first night. The title role is still considered the most difficult role in all of the soprano repertoire. Its performances by Maria Callas are among the finest. The extremely popular cavatina "Casta diva" was used in soundtracks for many films, such as A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999), The Game of their Lives, The Bridges of Madison County (1995), Atlantic City (1980), and Lorenzo's Oil (1992) among other films. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Steve Shelokhonov
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
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2026
The Metropolitan Opera: I Puritani
Movie Music
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2026
Concerto di Capodanno La Fenice 2026
Movie Original Music Composer
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2025
Omertà
Movie Music
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2025
The Metropolitan Opera: La Sonnambula
Movie Music
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2025
Norma
Movie Writer
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2025
Asmik Grigorian in Kaunas St. Peter and St. Paul Cathedral
Movie Original Music Composer
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2022
Mother Nocturna
Movie Music
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2022
I Capuleti e i Montecchi
Movie Original Music Composer
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2021
L'Opera in Ambasciata a Roma e Parigi
Movie Original Music Composer
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2021
Gala del Belcanto - Omaggio al melodramma di Bellini e Donizetti
Movie Original Music Composer
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2019
Il Pirata - Teatro Real de Madrid
Movie Original Music Composer
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2019
Bellini: I Puritani
Movie Original Music Composer
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2017
The Metropolitan Opera: Norma
Movie Original Music Composer
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2017
The Opera House
Movie Music
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2016
Royal Opera House: Norma
Movie Original Music Composer
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2016
Bellini: Norma
Movie Music
More credits
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2016
Bellini: I Capuleti e i Montecchi
Movie Music
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2015
I Capuleti e i Montecchi
Movie Original Music Composer
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2015
I Puritani
Movie Original Music Composer
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2014
I Capuleti e i Montecchi
Movie Original Music Composer
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2010
In Concert at The Met
Movie Original Music Composer
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2009
Bellini I Puritani
Movie Original Music Composer
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2009
La Sonnambula - Metropolitan Opera
Movie Music
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2008
La Sonnambula
Movie Original Music Composer
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2008
Norma
Movie Original Music Composer
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2007
I Puritani
Movie Original Music Composer
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2007
Norma
Movie Original Music Composer
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2007
Norma
Movie Original Music Composer
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2005
Vincenzo Bellini - Norma (De Nederlandse Opera)
Movie Original Music Composer
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2002
Beatrice di Tenda
Movie Original Music Composer
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2001
Norma
Movie Original Music Composer
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2000
Dear M.
Movie Original Music Composer
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1982
Casta Diva
Movie Music
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1974
Norma
Movie Writer
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1958
Maria Callas: Toujours (Paris 1958)
Movie Writer
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1956
La sonnambula
Movie Music
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1952
La sonnambula
Movie Opera
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