Poetry, stories, art, and music from the desk of Jezzie G, a writer without a label
O Sole Mio
1955
Opera
Beniamino Gigli
Classical, Opera
Born: 20 March 1890, Recanati, Italy
Nationality: Italian
Died: 30 November 1957, Rome, Italy
Gigli was a lyric tenor opera singer, widely regarded as one of the greatest tenors of his generation.
Nessun Dorma
1948
Opera
Mario Lanza
Opera
Born: 31 January 1921, Pennsylvania, USA
Nationality: American
Died: 7 October 1959, Rome, Italy
Lanza was a tenor singer and actor. He was a popular Hollywood star in the late 1940s and the 1950s. He began training as a professional singer at the age of 16. Following an appearance at the Hollywood Bowl; in 1947, Lanza signed a film contract with the head of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Louis B. Mayer, who saw the performance and was impressed by his singing
La Spagnola
1952
Opera
Mario Lanza
Opera
Born: 31 January 1921, Pennsylvania, USA
Nationality: American
Died: 7 October 1959, Rome, Italy
Lanza was a tenor singer and actor. He was a popular Hollywood star in the late 1940s and the 1950s. He began training as a professional singer at the age of 16. Following an appearance at the Hollywood Bowl; in 1947, Lanza signed a film contract with the head of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Louis B. Mayer, who saw the performance and was impressed by his singing
La Donna é Mobile
1951
Opera
Mario Lanza
Opera
Born: 31 January 1921, Pennsylvania, USA
Nationality: American
Died: 7 October 1959, Rome, Italy
Lanza was a tenor singer and actor. He was a popular Hollywood star in the late 1940s and the 1950s. He began training as a professional singer at the age of 16. Following an appearance at the Hollywood Bowl; in 1947, Lanza signed a film contract with the head of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Louis B. Mayer, who saw the performance and was impressed by his singing
Jewel Song
1859
Opera
Charles Gounod
Opera
Born: 17 June 1818, Paris, France
Nationality: French
Died: 18 October 1893, Saint-Cloud, France
Gounod was a composer and wrote twelve operas including “Faust” (1859) and “Romeo and Juliet” (1867), both of which remain in the international repertory. Gounod also composed church music, songs, and other shorter pieces. He was a student at the Conservatoire de Paris and won France’s prestigious musical prize, the Prix de Rome. A deeply religious man, Gounod considered the priesthood after his studies
If I Were King
1852
Opera
Adolphe Adam
Opera, Ballet
Born: 24 July 1803, Paris, France
Nationality: French
Died: 3 May 1856, Paris, France
Pic
Adam was a composer, teacher, and music critic. He was a prolific composer for the theatre and is best known for his ballets “Giselle” (1841) and “La Corsaire” (1856), and his operas “Le Postillon de Lonjumeau” (1836) and “Si J’etais Roi” (1852)
Háry János
1926
Opera
Zoltán Kodály
Classical
Born: 16 December 1882, Kecskemét, Hungary
Nationality: Hungarian
Died: 6 March 1967, Budapest, Hungary
Kodály was a composer, ethnomusicologist, linguist, pedagogue, and philosopher. He Is internationally known as the creator of the Kodály method of music education
Habanera
1875
Opera
Georges Bizet
Opera
Born: 25 October 1838, Paris, France
Nationality: French
Died: 3 June 1875, Bougival, France
Bizet was a composer of the Romantic era, best known for his operas. He achieved little success before his final work “Carmen” which has become one of the most popular and frequently performed works in the operatic repertoire. Bizet died of a heart attack 3 months after its premiere, unaware that it would prove a spectacular success
Cavalleria Rusticana
1890
Opera
Pietro Mascagni
Opera
Born: 7 December 1863, Livorno, Italy
Nationality: Italian
Died: 2 August 1945, Rome, Italy
Mascagni was a composer best known for his operas. In 1890 his opera “Cavalleria” caused on of the greatest sensations in operatic history and ushered in the Verismo movement in Italian dramatic music. Despite claims that Mascagni was a one-opera wonder “L’Amico Fritz” and “Iris” have also remained in the European repertoire since their premieres. Mascagni composed fifteen operas, an operetta, and several orchestral works. He enjoyed great success in his lifetime as a composer and a conductor
Bacchus
1909
Opera
Jules Massenet
Romantic
Born: 12 May 1842, Montaud, France
Nationality: French
Died: 13 August 1912, Paris, France
Massenet was a composer of the Romantic era best known for operas, including Manon )41884) and Werther (1892). Massenet also composed oratorios, orchestral works, songs, and other music. He became a professor at the Conservatoire teaching composition from 1878-1896. His students included Ernest Chausson, Gabriel Pierné, and Gustave Charpentier. Massenet’s operas are considered well-crafted and intelligent products of the Belle Époque
Faust
1859
Opera
Charles Gounod
Opera
Born: 17 June 1818, Paris, France
Nationality: French
Died: 18 October 1893, Saint-Cloud, France
Gounod was a composer and wrote twelve operas including “Faust” (1859) and “Romeo and Juliet” (1867), both of which remain in the international repertory. Gounod also composed church music, songs, and other shorter pieces. He was a student at the Conservatoire de Paris and won France’s prestigious musical prize, the Prix de Rome. A deeply religious man, Gounod considered the priesthood after his studies
O Sole Mio
1916
Opera
Enrico Caruso
Opera
Born: 25 February 1873, Naples, Italy
Nationality: Italian
Died: 2 August 1921, Naples, Italy
Caruso was an operatic first lyric tenor and dramatic tenor. To great acclaim, he sang at the major opera houses of Europe and America in a variety of roles from the Italian and French repertoires. Caruso was one of the first major singing talents to be commercially recorded and made 247 recordings from 1902-1920 making him an internationally popular star in the world of entertainment.
Dalibor
1865-67
Opera
Bedrich Smetana
Classical
Born: 2 March 1824, Litomysl, Czechia
Nationality: Czech
Died: 12 May 1884, Prague, Czechia
Smetana was a composer and a pioneer in the development of a musical style closely identified with his people’s aspirations for a cultural and political revival. In Czechia, he is regarded as the father of Czech music. Internationally, Smetana is best known for his 1866 opera “The Bartered Bride”
Carmen
1875
Opera
Georges Bizet
Opera
Born: 25 October 1858, Paris, France
Nationality: French
Died: 3 June 1875, Bougival, France
Bizet was a composer of the Romantic era, best known for his operas. He achieved little success before his final work “Carmen” which has become one of the most popular and frequently performed works in the operatic repertoire. Bizet died of a heart attack 3 months after its premiere, unaware that it would prove a spectacular success
Zaza
1900
Opera
Ruggero Leoncavallo
Opera
Born: 23 April 1857, Naples, Italy
Nationality: Italian
Died: 9 August 1919, Montecatini Terme, Italy
Leoncavallo was an opera composer and librettist. He produced numerous operas and other songs throughout his career but is best known for the opera “Pagliacci” which remains one of the most popular and frequently performed works in the opera repertory
Zanetto
1896
Opera
Pietro Mascagni
Opera
Born: 7 December 1863, Livorno, Italy
Nationality: Italian
Died: 2 August 1945, Rome, Italy
Mascagni was a composer best known for his operas. In 1890 his opera “Cavalleria” caused one of the greatest sensations in operatic history and ushered in the Verismo movement in Italian dramatic music. Despite claims that Mascagni was a one-opera wonder “L’Amico Fritz” and “Iris” have also remained in the European repertoire since their premieres. Mascagni composed fifteen operas, an operetta, and several orchestral works. He enjoyed remarkable success in his lifetime as a composer and a conductor
La Boheme
1896
Opera
Ruggero Leoncavallo
Opera
Born: 23 April 1857, Naples, Italy
Nationality: Italian
Died: 9 August 1919, Montecatini Terme, Italy
Leoncavallo was an opera composer and librettist. He produced numerous operas and other songs throughout his career but is best known for the opera “Pagliacci” which remains one of the most popular and frequently performed works in the opera repertory
Pagliacci
1892
Opera
Ruggero Leoncavallo
Opera
Born: 23 April 1857, Naples, Italy
Nationality: Italian
Died: 9 August 1919, Montecatini Terme, Italy
Leoncavallo was an opera composer and librettist. He produced numerous operas and other songs throughout his career but is best known for the opera “Pagliacci” which remains one of the most popular and frequently performed works in the opera repertory
The Brandenburgers in Bohemia
1862-63
Opera
Bedrich Smetana
Classical
Born: 2 March 1824, Litomysl, Czechia
Nationality: Czech
Died: 12 May 1884, Prague, Czechia
Smetana was a composer and a pioneer in the development of a musical style closely identified with his people’s aspirations for a cultural and political revival. In Czechia, he is regarded as the father of Czech music. Internationally, Smetana is best known for his 1866 opera “The Bartered Bride”
The Bartered Bride: Overture
1866
Comic Opera
Bedrich Smetana
Classical
Born: 2 March 1824, Litomysl, Czechia
Nationality: Czech
Died: 12 May 1884, Prague, Czechia
Smetana was a composer and a pioneer in the development of a musical style closely identified with his people’s aspirations for a cultural and political revival. In Czechia, he is regarded as the father of Czech music. Internationally, Smetana is best known for his 1866 opera “The Bartered Bride”
Gugliolmo Ratcliff
1894
Opera
Pietro Mascagni
Opera
Born: 7 December 1863, Livorno, Italy
Nationality: Italian
Died: 2 August 1945, Rome, Italy
Mascagni was a composer best known for his operas. In 1890 his opera “Cavalleria” caused one of the greatest sensations in operatic history and ushered in the Verismo movement in Italian dramatic music. Despite claims that Mascagni was a one-opera wonder “L’Amico Fritz” and “Iris” have also remained in the European repertoire since their premieres. Mascagni composed fifteen operas, an operetta, and several orchestral works. He enjoyed great success in his lifetime as a composer and conductor
L’amico Fritz
1891
Opera
Pietro Mascagni
Opera
Born: 7 December 1863, Livorno, Italy
Nationality: Italian
Died: 2 August 1945, Rome, Italy
Mascagni was a composer best known for his operas. In 1890 his opera “Cavalleria” caused one of the greatest sensations in operatic history and ushered in the Verismo movement in Italian dramatic music. Despite claims that Mascagni was a one-opera wonder “L’Amico Fritz” and “Iris” have also remained in the European repertoire since their premieres. Mascagni composed fifteen operas, an operetta, and several orchestral works. He enjoyed great success in his lifetime as a composer and conductor.
Easter Hymn
1890
Opera
Pietro Mascagni
Opera
Born: 7 December 1863, Livorno, Italy
Nationality: Italian
Died: 2 August 1945, Rome, Italy
Mascagni was a composer best known for his operas. In 1890 his opera “Cavalleria” caused one of the greatest sensations in operatic history and ushered in the Verismo movement in Italian dramatic music. Despite claims that Mascagni was a one-opera wonder “L’Amico Fritz” and “Iris” have also remained in the European repertoire since their premieres. Mascagni composed fifteen operas, an operetta, and several orchestral works. He enjoyed great success in his lifetime as a composer and a conductor
Griselda
1701
Opera
Alessandro Scarlatti
Opera
Born: 6 May 1660, Sicily
Nationality: Sicilian
Died: 22 October 1725, Naples, Italy
Scarlatti was a composer, best known for his operas and chamber cantatas. He is considered to be one of the most important composers of the Neapolitan School of Opera. Scarlatti was also the father of the composers Domenico and Pietro Filippo Scarlatti
From the House of the Dead
1928
Opera
Leoš Janáček
Folk, Opera
Born: 3 July 1854, Hukvsldy, Czechia
Nationality: Czech
Died: 12 August 1928, Ostrava, Czechia
Janáček was a composer, folklorist, musical theorist, teacher, and publicist, inspired by Moravian and other Slavic music to create a modern musical style. He devoted himself to folkloristic research until 1895. Janáček’s early musical works were influenced by his contemporaries such as Antonín Dvořák, however, his later works incorporated his research of national folk music in a modern and original synthesis, such as in the opera Jenůfa (1904). Janáček is considered one of the most important the Czech composers
Il Pompeo
1682
Opera
Alessandro Scarlatti
Opera
Born: 6 May 1660, Sicily
Nationality: Sicilian
Died: 22 October 1725, Naples, Italy
Scarlatti was a composer, best known for his operas and chamber cantatas. He is considered to be one of the most important composers of the Neapolitan School of Opera. Scarlatti was also the father of the composers Domenico and Pietro Filippo Scarlatti
Amor Ti Vieta
1998
Opera
Andrea Bocelli
Opera
Born: 22 September 1958, Lajatico, Italy
Nationality: Italian
Bocelli is an operatic tenor and multi-instrumentalist. Diagnosed with congenital glaucoma at 5 months old he became blind at 12 years old after a soccer accident. Bocelli rose to fame in 1994 winning the preliminary round of the 44th Sanremo Music festival with the highest marks recorded in the newcomers’ section.
Telemaco
1718
Opera
Alessandro Scarlatti
Opera
Born: 6 May 1660, Sicily
Nationality: Sicilian
Died: 22 October 1725, Naples, Italy
Scarlatti was a composer, best known for his operas and chamber cantatas. He is considered to be one of the most important composers of the Neapolitan School of Opera. Scarlatti was also the father of the composers Domenico and Pietro Filippo Scarlatti
Die Fledermaus
1874
Opera
Johann Strauss II
Classical
Born: 25 October 1825, Vienna, Austria
Nationality: Austrian
Died: 3 June 1899, Vienna, Austria
Johann Strauss II was a composer of light music, dance music, and operettas. He was known as the Waltz King, having composed over 500 waltzes, polkas, and quadrilles, including ‘The Blue Danube’, Kaiser-Waltzer’, and ‘Tritsch-Tratsche-Polka’.
One Fine Day
Opera
Maria Callas
Opera
Born: 2 December 1923, New York, USA
Nationality: American
Died: 16 September 1977, Paris, France
Callas was a soprano and one of the most influential opera singers of the 20th century. Critics acclaimed her bel canto technique, dramatic interpretations, and wide-ranging vocals. Ranging from classical opera to bel canto operas Callas’ musical and dramatic talents led to her being referred to as La Divina
La Donna é Mobile
1973
Opera
José Carreras
Opera
Born: 5 December 1946, Barcelona, Spain
Nationality: Spanish
Carreras is an operatic tenor best known for his performances in the operas of Donizetti, Verdi, and Puccini. He made his operatic debut at age 11 as Trujamán n Manuel de Falla’s “El Retablo de Messe Pedro”. Carreras’ career encompassed 60 roles, performed in some of the world’s leading opera houses and on numerous recordings. As one of the Three Tenors Carreras gained wider popularity in a series of large concerts with Plácido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti. Carreras is also known for his humanitarian work as the president of the José Carreras International Leukaemia Foundation which he founded after his own recovery from the disease in 1988
La Donna é Mobile
1977
Opera
Plácido Domingo
Opera
Born: 21 January 1941, Madrid, Spain
Nationality: Spanish
Placido Domingo is an opera singer, conductor, and arts administrator. He is well known for his versatility, performing in Italian, French, German, Spanish, English, and Russian in many of the most prestigious opera houses in the world. Domingo is primarily a Lirico-spinto tenor and is especially renowned for his Cavaradossi, Hoffmann, Don José and Canio as well as becoming the most acclaimed Otello of his generation
Káťa Kabanová
1921
Opera
Leoš Janáček
Folk, Opera
Born: 3 July 1854, Hukvsldy, Czechia
Nationality: Czech
Died: 12 August 1928, Ostrava, Czechia
Janáček was a composer, folklorist, musical theorist, teacher, and publicist, inspired by Moravian and other Slavic music to create a modern musical style. He devoted himself to folkloristic research until 1895. Janáček’s early musical works were influenced by his contemporaries such as Antonín Dvořák, however, his later works incorporated his research of national folk music in a modern and original synthesis, such as in the opera Jenůfa (1904). Janáček is considered one of the most important of the Czech composers
Serse
1738
Opera
Georg Frideric Handel
Classical
Born: 5 March 1685, Halle, Germany
Nationality: German-English
Died: 14 April 1759, London, UK
Handel was a Baroque composer who spent most of his career in London, becoming naturalized British in 1727. He was well known for his operas, oratorios, concerti grossi, organ concertos, and anthems. Handel trained in Halle and worked as a composer in Hamburg before settling in London in 1712. He started three opera companies to supply Italian opera to the English nobility. Handel is considered one of the greatest composers of the Baroque era with works such as Messiah, Water Music, Music for the Royal Fireworks, and four coronation anthems; Zadok the Priest, composed for the coronation of George II, has been performed at the coronation of every subsequent coronation during the anointing of the monarch
O Sole Mio
1996
Opera
Andrea Bocelli
Opera
Born: 22 September 1958, Lajatico, Italy
Nationality: Italian
Bocelli is an operatic tenor and multi-instrumentalist. Diagnosed with congenital glaucoma at 5 months old he became blind at 12 years old after a soccer accident. Bocelli rose to fame in 1994 winning the preliminary round of the 44th Sanremo Music festival with the highest marks recorded in the newcomers’ section
E Lucevan Le Stelle
1982
Opera
Plácido Domingo
Opera
Born: 21 January 1941, Madrid, Spain
Nationality: Spanish
Placido Domingo is an opera singer, conductor, and arts administrator. He is well known for his versatility, performing in Italian, French, German, Spanish, English, and Russian in many of the most prestigious opera houses in the world. Domingo is primarily a Lirico-spinto tenor and is especially renowned for his Cavaradossi, Hoffmann, Don José and Canio as well as becoming the most acclaimed Otello of his generation
O Mio Babbino Caro
2001
Opera
Kiri Te Kanawa
Opera
Born: 6 March 1944, Gisborne, New Zealand
Nationality: New Zealander
Te Kanawa is a retired opera singer best known for her full lyric soprano voice. She has received accolades from across the world, particularly for her performances of Mozart, Strauss, Handel, Puccini, and Verdi. In her later career, Te Kanawa performed concerts and recitals. Her final performance was in Ballarat, Australia in 2016
La Donna é Mobile
1997
Opera
Andrea Bocelli
Opera
Born: 22 September 1958, Lajatico, Italy
Nationality: Italian
Bocelli is an operatic tenor and multi-instrumentalist. Diagnosed with congenital glaucoma at 5 months old he became blind at 12 years old after a soccer accident. Bocelli rose to fame in 1994 winning the preliminary round of the 44th Sanremo Music festival with the highest marks recorded in the newcomers’ section.
You’ll Never Walk Alone
1992
Opera
Kiri Te Kanawa
Opera
Born: 6 March 1944, Gisborne, New Zealand
Nationality: New Zealander
Te Kanawa is a retired opera singer best known for her full lyric soprano voice. She has received accolades from across the world particularly for her performances of Mozart, Strauss, Handel, Puccini, and Verdi. In her later career, Te Kanawa performed concerts and recitals. Her final performance was in Ballarat, Australia in 2016
Der Zigeunerbaron
1885
Opera
Johann Strauss II
Classical
Born: 25 October 1825, Vienna, Austria
Nationality: Austrian
Died: 3 June 1899, Vienna, Austria
Johann Strauss II was a composer of light music, dance music, and operettas. He was known as the Waltz King, having composed over 500 waltzes, polkas, and quadrilles, including ‘The Blue Danube’, Kaiser-Waltzer’, and ‘Tritsch-Tratsche-Polka’
Caruso
1986
Opera
Lyrics by Lucio Dalla
Qui dove il mare luccica,
E tira forte il vento
Su una vecchia terrazza
Davanti al golfo di Surriento
Un uomo abbraccia una ragazza,
Dopo che aveva pianto
Poi si schiarisce la voce,
E ricomincia il canto.
Te voglio bene assaje,
Ma tanto bene sai
è una catena ormai,
Che scioglie il sangue dint’ ‘e ‘vvene sai.
Vide le luci in mezzo al mare,
Pensò alle notti là in America
Ma erano solo le lampare
Nella bianca scia di un’elica
Sentì il dolore nella musica,
Si alzò dal pianoforte
Ma quando vide la luna uscire da una nuvola
Gli sembrò più dolce anche la morte
Guardò negli occhi la ragazza,
Quelli occhi verdi come il mare
Poi all’improvviso uscì una lacrima,
E lui credette di affogare
Te voglio bene assaje,
Ma tanto bene sai
è una catena ormai,
Che scioglie il sangue dint’ ‘e ‘vvene sai
Potenza della lirica,
Dove ogni dramma è un falso
Che con un po’ di trucco e con la mimica
Puoi diventare un altro
Ma due occhi che ti guardano
Così vicini e veri
Ti fan scordare le parole,
Confondono i pensieri
Così diventa tutto piccolo,
Anche le notti là in America
Ti volti e vedi la tua vita
Come la scia di un’elica
Ma sì, è la vita che finisce,
Ma lui non ci pensò poi tanto
Anzi si sentiva già felice,
E ricominciò il suo canto
Te voglio bene assaje,
Ma tanto bene sai
è una catena ormai,
Che scioglie il sangue dint’ ‘e ‘vvene sai
Luciano Pavarotti
Opera
Born: 12 October 1935, Modena, Italy
Nationality: Italian
Died: 6 September 2007, Modena, Italy
Pavarotti was an operatic tenor who crossed over into popular music late in his career. He became one of the most loved and acclaimed tenors of all time. He gained international fame for the quality of his voice with numerous recordings of complete operas and individual arias, establishing Pavarotti as one of the finest tenors of the 20th century and the reputation of King of the High C’s
Rinaldo
1711
Opera
Georg Frideric Handel
Classical
Born: 5 March 1685, Halle, Germany
Nationality: German-English
Died: 14 April 1759, London, UK
Handel was a Baroque composer who spent most of his career in London, becoming naturalized British in 1727. He was well known for his operas, oratorios, concerti grossi, organ concertos, and anthems. Handel trained in Halle and worked as a composer in Hamburg before settling in London in 1712. He started three opera companies to supply Italian opera to the English nobility. Handel is considered one of the greatest composers of the Baroque era with works such as Messiah, Water Music, Music for the Royal Fireworks, and four coronation anthems; Zadok the Priest, composed for the coronation of George II, has been performed at the coronation of every subsequent coronation during the anointing of the monarch
O Sole Mio
Opera
Luciano Pavarotti
Opera
Born: 12 October 1935, Modena, Italy
Nationality: Italian
Died: 6 September 2007, Modena, Italy
Pavarotti was an operatic tenor who crossed over into popular music late in his career. He became one of the most loved and acclaimed tenors of all time. He gained international fame for the quality of his voice with numerous recordings of complete operas and individual arias, establishing Pavarotti as one of the finest tenors of the 20th century and the reputation of King of the High C’s
La zingara
1822
Opera
Gaetano Donizetti
Opera
Born: 29 November 1797, Bergamo, Italy
Nationality: Italian
Died: 8 April 1848, Bergamo, Italy
Donizetti was a composer best known for almost 70 operas. He was one of the leading composers of the bel canto opera style, along with Vincenzo Bellini and Gioachino Rossini, during the first half of the 19th century. His association with bel canto was an influence on other composers such as Giuseppe Verdi. Donizetti did not come from a musical background and at an early age was taken under the wing of Simon Mayr, who enrolled him in a scholarship in his own school. Donizetti received training in the arts of the fugue and counterpoint. Mayr also gained Donizetti a place at the Bologna Academy where he wrote his first one-act opera Il Pigmalione
Rigoletto
1851
Opera
Giuseppe Verdi
Opera
Born: 10 October 1813, Le Roncole, Italy
Nationality: Italian
Died: 27 January 1901, Milan, Italy
Verdi was an opera composer; born to a provincial family of moderate means he developed a musical education with help of a local patron. He dominated the Italian opera scene after the era of Vincenzo Bellini, Gioachino, Rossini, and Gaetano Donisetti. In his early works Verdi demonstrated a sympathy for the Risorgimento movement seeking to unify Italy. He was an extremely private person and didn’t seek to integrate himself with populist movements. As he became professionally successful he reduced his musical workload and established himself as a landowner. Verdi surprised the musical world by returning with the opera Aida in 1871, Requiem in 1874, Otello in 1887 and Falstaff in 1893
Habanera
1962
Opera
Maria Callas
Opera
Born: 2 December 1923, New York, USA
Nationality: American
Died: 16 September 1977, Paris, France
Callas was a soprano and one of the most influential opera singers of the 20th century. Critics acclaimed her bel canto technique, dramatic interpretations, and wide-ranging vocals. Ranging from classical opera to bel canto operas Callas’ musical and dramatic talents led to her being referred to as La Divina
War and Peace
1946
Opera
Sergei Prokofiev
Classical
Born: 23 April 1891, Sontsivka, Ukraine
Nationality: Russian
Died: 5 March 1953, Moscow, Russia
Prokofiev was a composer, pianist and conductor. He is considered one of the major composers of the 20th century as the creator of accredited masterpieces across a variety of genres. His works include the ballet Romeo and Juliet, The Love for Three Oranges, and Peter and the Wolf.
Vissi d’arte
1964
Opera
Maria Callas
Opera
Born: 2 December 1923, New York, USA
Nationality: American
Died: 16 September 1977, Paris, France
Callas was a soprano and one of the most influential opera singers of the 20th century. Critics acclaimed her bel canto technique, dramatic interpretations, and wide-ranging vocals. Ranging from classical opera toto bel canto operas Callas’ musical and dramatic talents led to her being referred to as La Divina
Emilia di Liverpool
1824
Opera
Gaetano Donizetti
Opera
Born: 29 November 1797, Bergamo, Italy
Nationality: Italian
Died: 8 April 1848, Bergamo, Italy
Donizetti was a composer best known for almost 70 operas. He was one of the leading composers of the bel canto opera style, along with Vincenzo Bellini and Gioachino Rossini, during the first half of the 19th century. His association with bel canto was an influence on other composers such as Giuseppe Verdi. Donizetti did not come from a musical background and at an early age was taken under the wing of Simon Mayr, who enrolled him in a scholarship in his own school. Donizetti received training in the arts of the fugue and counterpoint. Mayr also gained Donizetti a place at the Bologna Academy where he wrote his first one-act opera Il Pigmalione
Beatrice and Bénédict
1862
Opera
Hector Berlioz
Romantic
Born: 11 December 1803, La Côte-Saint-André, France
Nationality: French
Died: 8 March 1869, Paris, France
Berlioz was a composer and conductor of the Romantic era. His works include orchestral works, choral pieces, three operas and compositions of hybrid genres. As the eldest son of a provincial doctor, Berlioz was expected to enter the medical profession, and attended a Parisian medical college before going against his family and taking up a professional music career. His independence and refusal to follow traditional rules and forms and formulas put him at odds with the musical conservatism of the Parisian establishment
Jezzie G 