Vincenzo Bellini Trailers
The Metropolitan Opera: I Puritani TrailerConcerto di Capodanno La Fenice 2026 TrailerOmertà Trailer
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
Most Popular Vincenzo Bellini Trailers
Total trailers found: 34
23 February 2025
Norma is a woman torn between two systems. As a chaste druid priestess, she decides on war and peace in an occupied land; secretly, she’s the lover of Roman commander Pollione and mother of his two children.
01 January 2010
In Concert at the Met (DVD) - Highlights Five of the Met's greatest stars - Price, Horne, Troyanos, Domingo, and Milnes - joined James Levine for a series of irresistible concert programs, originally telecast in the 1980s.
26 September 2016
The priestess Norma loves Pollione, leader of the occupying force suppressing her people, and has borne two children by him.
21 March 2009
Just as a young woman is about to marry her sweetheart, she is discovered—by the entire village, to say nothing of her fiancé—asleep in the bedroom of a stranger.
25 July 2007
NORMA tells the tragic story of a supposedly chaste druidic priestess, who is driven to murderous jealousy by her lover's inconstancy.
01 January 2005
In Guy Joosten's ingenious production of Bellini's masterpiece, Norma is about more than just beautiful singing.
02 January 2007
This new production of Bellinis Norma by Jürgen Rose (sets, costumes, stage direction, and lighting) to honor Edita Gruberovas first staged assumption of the title role was taped in January and February of 2006 in Munich.
19 December 1956
Italian TV production of the Bellini opera
04 September 2014
Bellini's radiant retelling of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is a beacon in the bel canto tradition.
10 March 2015
"This is Vienna State Opera live at home". March 2015
30 November 2019
Gualtiero is an exiled count, forced to become a pirate. His enemy Ernesto blackmails Imogene into marrying him, even though he knows she loves Gualtiero.
01 May 2001
Gaul has been conquered by the Romans. Oroveso, the Arch-Druid longs to lead a Gallic rebellion against the colonial forces.
19 November 2022
Agnese is a wolf biologist who gets back to her family after a long hospitalization in a mental institution.
01 October 2017
In this documentary, award-winning filmmaker Susan Froemke explores the creation of the Metropolitan Opera’s storied home of the last five decades.
01 January 2026
From Venice's Teatro La Fenice, the traditional New Year's Concert conducted by Maestro Michele Mariotti, featuring arias, duets, and choral pieces performed by soloists Rosa Feola and Jonathan Tetelman.
18 October 2025
Nadine Sierra summits another peak of the soprano repertoire as Amina, who sleepwalks her way into audiences’ hearts in Bellini’s poignant tale of love lost and found.
26 September 2016
The priestess Norma loves Pollione, leader of the occupying force suppressing her people, and has borne two children by him.
22 November 2007
It's hard to imagine a video opera collection without this superbly sung MET production of Bellini's I Puritani.
20 July 1974
Oroveso, a Druid High Priest, gathers his people in a sacred forest and prays to their gods for help in vanquishing the Romans who have taken over Gaul.
01 January 2002
Live performance from the Zurich Opera House, January 2002.
01 August 1982
In a series of long held shots, men are observed performing simple tasks in real time, while on the soundtrack we hear excerpts from opera.
19 December 1958
The career of Maria Callas was just a bit too early and too brief to receive full and satisfying video documentation like that now being accorded to such singers as Renée Fleming and Luciano Pavarotti.
10 January 2026
When it comes to beautiful melodies, captivating coloratura and virtuoso vocal fireworks, few operas can match Bellini's I puritani.
03 May 2019
A passionate young couple finds itself caught up in a conflict between opposing political factions. Entangled as they are in a web of political intrigue, deception and madness, will the power of their love prevail? Set in England during the Civil War, Bellini’s last opera I puritani opposes Royalist cavaliers and rebellious Puritans.
17 May 2016
Bellini - i Capuleti e i Montecchi at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona
01 January 2021
With “Opera in the Embassy,” a bridge between France and Italy, a new opera season begins. French and Italian arias will be performed by young artists from the Fabbrica-Teatro dell'Opera di Roma and the Académie-Opéra national de Paris in an exceptional concert at Palazzo Farnese and the Hôtel de la Rochefoucauld-Doudeauville.
01 January 2025
In Lithuania, soprano Asmik Grigorian and tenor Dmytro Popov join forces with the Kaunas Symphony Orchestra for a high-profile opera concert at the city's St.
01 January 2021
From Rome's Parco della Musica auditorium, the Orchestra and Choir of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia perform: A Tribute to the Melodramas of Bellini and Donizetti.
03 June 2009
The context is England's Civil War between the Roundheads (the Parliamentarians, or Puritans of the title) and the Cavaliers (Royalists).
