Donizetti’s Tribute to Bellini – “Lamento per Bellini” cover art

Donizetti’s Tribute to Bellini – “Lamento per Bellini”

Donizetti’s Tribute to Bellini – “Lamento per Bellini”

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 In the 1830s, Gaetano Donizetti was at the height of his powers. With his operas conquering stages across Italy, he set his sights on the ultimate prize: Paris. But beyond the grand spectacle of the opera house, Donizetti was also exploring a more intimate, personal, and commercially savvy world - the world of song.In this episode, host Flora Willson is joined by leading Donizetti scholar Professor Roger Parker to delve into this pivotal decade.They uncover how the ambition to write for the Paris Opéra shaped works like L'assedio di Calais and led to a fascination with the "exotic."You'll also hear the fascinating story behind Donizetti's Lamento per Bellini, a moving tribute where he deliberately imitates the musical style of his greatest rival. Finally, we listen to the flirtatious Neapolitan charm of La conocchia (The Spindle), a perfect example of how Donizetti's songs were becoming a popular commodity across Europe.This series is part of Opera Rara's mission to unearth, restore, and record the lost and forgotten works of opera's greatest composers - a mission made possible by our loyal supporters."None of Donizetti's operas was ever finished. They were just abandoned, basically. And if he had an opportunity to come back, he would always rewrite things." - Prof. Roger ParkerChapters00:00 - Donizetti in the 1830s: The Peak of His Italian Career03:25 - Aiming for Paris: The French Grand Opéra Influence in L'assedio di Calais08:48 - From the Stage to the Salon: Donizetti's Songs Become a Commodity10:55 - A Rival's Lament: Imitating Bellini's Style15:01 - The Allure of the 'Other': Exoticism in Donizetti's Songs17:05 - The Flirtatious Spindle: Deconstructing 'La conocchia'22:20 - Domestic Security & A Thriving Social Network24:46 - Ask Opera Rara: Your Questions Answered28:33 - Why Was Italian Art Song Overlooked?31:56 - New Discoveries in Don PasqualeGet InvolvedREVIEW & SUBSCRIBE: Follow or subscribe to make sure you never miss an episode. And please leave a review to help other opera-lovers discover our work.DISCOVER: Opera Rara's work to unearth, restore, and record lost and forgotten operas by some of music's greatest composers: https://opera-rara.com/SUPPORT: A unique operatic vision and help us create more content like this: https://www.opera-rara.com/supportEXPLORE: The full Opera Rara catalogue: https://opera-rara.com/shopcatalogueFOLLOW Opera Rara:YouTubeInstagramX / TwitterFacebookLinkedInBlueSkySupportersThis season of Lives in Song has been made possible by the generous support ofAndrea Pessino, Opera Rara's 2024-25 season Donizetti Songs Supporter and the Opera Rara Donizetti Syndicate.The Donizetti Song Project is supported by the Colwinston Charitable Trust and the Cockayne Grants for the Arts at the London Community Foundation. Opera Rara's work is only made possible by the support of our loyal family of donors and listeners.For more information about supporting Opera Rara, please visit opera-rara.com/support.CreditsLives in Song is produced for Opera Rara by Creative Kin.Output Editor: Jason CaffreyProducer: Milly MarchExecutive Producer: Zachary Vanderburg
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