Spend a day with Bellini

Bellini was a fascinating composer, he wrote far fewer operas than his contemporaries (roughly one per year to Donizetti's four) and was extremely picky about his librettos. He insisted that he sweated blood over the writing, and needed to recover afterwards. And he was famously difficult over fees! But his operas like Norma, La Sonnambula and I Puritani are some of the greatest to remain in the repertoire. 

Bellini was friends with Chopin, Mendelssohn got his autograph and he was one of the few composers admired by Wagner. On Thursday 19 June there is a chance to learn more at Divas and Scholars study day on Bellini. Its a chance to spent the whole day at the Cadogan Hall learning about the composer as Sarah Lenton and myself lecture in the morning, and hearing what its like to perform Bellini as soprano Nelly Miricioiu gives a lecture/recital in the afternoon. Also performing will be tenor James Edwards and mezzo-soprano Rachel Kelly. Philip Mountford accompanies.

Further information from the Divas and Scholars website and the Cadogan Hall website.