This first program for Black History Month will feature artists who excel in the music from the Bel Canto era of Italian opera. A timespan that begins with the operas of Rossini and continues through Verdi’s middle career, the term bel canto is also used to describe the singing style of the era — a technical approach which has its origins in the high Baroque and continues to be an ideal for training singers to this day.
On Singing Bel Canto
Lawrence Brownlee phot by Shervin Lainez.
Playlist
Gioacchino Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia
Aria, “Contro un cor” (Lesson Scene)
Kathleen Battle, soprano
Cavatina, “Ecco ridente in cielo”
Lawrence Brownlee, tenor
Vincenzo Bellini: I Capuleti e i Montecchi
Cavatina, “Oh! quante volte”
Nicole Cabell, soprano
Vincenzo Bellini: I puritani
Quartetto, “A te, o cara”
Lawrence Brownlee, tenor
Gaetano Donizetti: La favorita
Aria, “O mio Fernando”
Shirley Verrett, mezzo-soprano
Giuseppe Verdi: Il trovatore
Aria, “Tacea la notte placida”
Martina Arroyo, soprano
This episode of Listening to Singers will be available for listening on-demand until February 20.