This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1908 Excerpt: ...While Bellini was unfortunate in no longer having Romani for his librettist, the music of "I Puritani" is among the richest and most expressive of any he ever wrote. It is a peculiarity of the opera that the chief part, musically speaking, belongs to the tenor but being written for Rubini, whose upper tones were ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1908 Excerpt: ...While Bellini was unfortunate in no longer having Romani for his librettist, the music of "I Puritani" is among the richest and most expressive of any he ever wrote. It is a peculiarity of the opera that the chief part, musically speaking, belongs to the tenor but being written for Rubini, whose upper tones were phenomenal, few tenors have voices sufficiently high to attempt it. The work was given in London in 1835 for Mme. Grisi's benefit and this "Puritani" season was remembered years afterward as the most brilliant ever known. "I Puritani" was Bellini's last work and when, shortly after his death, the Theatre Italien in Paris reopened with it, the singers repeated to some of its melodies, the words of the Catholic service for the dead. The score is replete with engaging melodies, among them the tenor song, "A te o cara" (" To thee, beloved "); the polonaise sung by Elvira, "Son vergin vezzosa" ("A virgin veiled"); the stirring chorus of Puritans which concludes the first act; Elvira's mad song "Qui la voce" (" This the voice"); the sonorous and stirring "Liberty Duet" between Richard and George; the duet of Arthur and Elvira, "Star teco ognor" (" Yes with thee forever") and Arthur's adagio, "Ella e tremante" (" She now trembling "). "La Juive" or "The Jewess," a grand opera in five acts, with words by Scribe and music by Jacques Halevy, was first produced at the Academie in Paris, Feb. 23, 1835. CHARACTERS. Rachel, the Jewess. Eudossia, niece of the Emperor. Leopold, prince of the Empire. Cardinal De Brogni, priest of the Council of Constance. Ruggiero, first magistrate of the city of Constance. A...
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