Norma. Bellini\\\’s Norma is rather ambiguous in musical terms. On paper, the orchestra often seems sober and \\\’standard\\\’ bel canto, but in an excellent performance, the work can be mesmerising. Norma is entirely dependent on top-quality vocals. Bellini writes long phrases that offer little \\\’foothold\\\’ to singers who do not have exceptional legato. \\\’Casta diva\\\’ unfolds deliberately simply and slowly, but with too broad a vibrato, the aria becomes a series of loose, beautiful notes. This applies equally to the following cabaletta \\\’Ah! bello a me ritorna\\\’: if the tempo is too mechanical, virtuosity turns into routine and the music only sounds accelerating \\\’because that\\\’s how it\\\’s supposed to be\\\’.
Tag: Vincenzo Bellini
I Capuleti e i Montecchi. Yaritza Véliz was a revelation for us in the role of Julia. Brilliant, beautiful, and magnificent. This Chilean soprano possesses all the vocal assets and technical skills required for bel canto: purity of tone, excellent breath control and a feel for melodic lines, clarity and precision in the vocalises, a comfortable range and, above all, a flexibility that enables her to convey emotions simply by varying her tone, dynamics or use of voice, with floating, ethereal high notes worthy of the greatest singers.
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