Composer of the Week: Bellini

Donald Macleod tells the story of Bellini's opera Zaira, which was nearly left unperformed due to his librettist Felice Romani refusing to shave his moustache - an act considered illegal in 1820s Palma. Though the opera was a failure, Bellini was able to recycle the best material for his new reworking of the Romeo and Juliet story, I Capuleti e I Montecchi, which went on to be a great success. Donald discusses the beginnings of Bellini's ill health, which recurred throughout his short lifetime, and introduces four of his songs. Bellini: Aria: Amo ed amato io sono (Zaira). Yvonne Kennedy (soprano: Zaira), Lynne Davis (soprano: Fatima), Geoffrey Mitchell Choir, Philharmonia Orchestra, conductor David Parry. Ma rendi pur contento; L'Allegro marinaro. Montserrat Caballé (soprano), Miguel Zanetti (piano). Malinconia, ninfa gentile; L'Abbandono. Cecilia Bartoli (mezzo), James Levine (piano). Deserto e il luogo...Ah, crudel! Che mai facesti? (I Capuleti e I Montecchi). Anna Netrebko (soprano: Giulietta), Tiziano Bracci (bass: Capellio), Robert Gleadow (bass: Lorenzo), Elina Garanca (mezzo: Romeo), Joseph Calleja (tenor: Tebaldo), Wiener Singakademie, Wiener Symphoniker, conductor Fabio Luisi.