Lyrical lava in Gaul

Vasily Bharkatov directs Norma in Vienna (****) [stream]

Asmik Grigorian as Norma © Monika Rittershaus

When Vincenzo Bellini died at the age of 34, he had composed 10 operas - an impressive number, but at the same age Rossini had written 39 and Donizetti 35. The statistics are telling. While Rossini and many of his bel canto successors could complete an opera in a few days by falling back on habitual routines and not worrying too much about the correlation between text and music, Bellini tried to put more time and effort into his work. Let's say that Bellini strove to create well-proportioned and balanced dramas that appealed to the emotions rather than just to the ear.