Bellini I Capuleti e i Montecchi
Bellini I Capuleti e i Montecchi Program Notes
Bellini is one of the greatest composers in the bel canto operatic style (literally, beautiful singing), alongside Donizetti and Rossini. Bellini’s Norma, I Puritani, La Sonnambula and the present I Capuleti e i Montecchi remain frequently performed. With long melodic lines and dramatic expressivity, Bellini’s arias were favorites of such stars as Maria Callas, Renata Tebaldi, Joan Sutherland, Enrico Caruso and Luciano Pavarotti. Bellinis I Capuleti e i Montecchi is not Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet. The Italian tale of star-crossed lovers was already well travelled when adopted by Bellinis librettist, Felice Romani. Here, Giuletta Capuleti’s father Capellio, and Giulettas secret lover, Romeo Montecchi, lead two warring political groups. A disguised Romeo visits to try to defuse the conflict, arriving in the midst of preparations for the nuptials of Guiletta to the Capulet ally, Tebaldo. The attempt goes badly and further conflict seems inevitable. The second scene introduces Guiletta, who, in this recitativo and aria, sings of Romeos absence, and gloom toward the coming wedding.I Capuleti e i Montecchi (The Capulets and the Montagues) is a bel canto opera by Vincenzo Bellini based on the Romeo and Juliet story, premiered in 1830. It is prized for the beauty of its vocal writing and its deeply felt lyrical melodies.
The opera was premiered at La Fenice in Venice on March 11, 1830, and was immediately successful. Bellini composed it in just about six weeks, partly adapting music from an earlier opera.
A full performance of the opera lasts approximately 2 hours including intermission.
Listen for the exquisite duets between Romeo and Giulietta — Bellini's gift for long, arching vocal melody is at its finest here. The tragic finale, in which Romeo arrives at the tomb too late, is deeply moving.
Unlike Shakespeare's version, Bellini's opera casts Romeo as a mezzo-soprano — a tradition of trouser roles in opera seria that gave great female singers the opportunity to portray the romantic hero. This casting adds an unusual vocal richness to the Romeo and Juliet duets.
