Bellini: Life, Times, Music (1801-35) | 
 enlarge | Author: Stelios Galatopoulos
Publisher: Sanctuary Publishing
Category: Book
List Price: $30.00
Buy New: $16.95
You Save: $13.05 (44%)
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Rating:  2 reviews
Sales Rank: 1690840
Media: Paperback
Pages: 300
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.7
ISBN: 1860744052
Dewey Decimal Number: 790
EAN: 9781860744051
ASIN: 1860744052
Publication Date: May 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: New/New;
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Product Description
The definitive account of Vincenzo Bellini's life and work. This superb work includes personal letters, intimate details of relationships with men and women, an interpretation of the biopsy report explaining the circumstances of his tragic death and previously unseen illustrations from the early 1800s.
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| Customer Reviews:
 The Sicilian Swan March 11, 2007
Lorenzo Moog (Seattle, WA USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Here is a new biograpy (at last) of the superb Italian composer Vincenzo Bellini written with intelligence and care of purpose. Bellini's life is unfolded sequentially from his birth in Catania in 1801 to his death in Paris in 1835. I very much like the way Mr. Galatapoulos sets up the chapters giving the details of Vincenzo's life as he was writing a particular opera, then the performance of the opera with reviews and stories of the cast, then the story of the opera itself, then a musical examination of the work and finally suggested recordings. It is on that last detail that he gets in trouble with the previous reviewer regarding Mdme.Callas but to me that is small detail. The opera world brims over with Callasistas and after all Mr. Galatapoulos IS Greek. Vincenzo never minded sharing the spotlight with a great soprano! The author uses that same chapter-set-up for each of the eleven operas Bellini wrote and it gives the book an agreeable rhythm. I appreciated the close examination of Bellini's lifelong relationship with Francesco Florimo which I felt was done in a very even handed way. And I also appreciated the author's reluctance to speculate on several parts of Bellini's life where there is no historical record to support it. I found myself wanting more social and political ambience in order to frame out that interesting period of Italian history in which Bellini lived. But no matter, I found this book to be informative and compelling and it re-inforced my love for this short-lived genius who poured out some the most sublime music of the 19th Century.
 an okay biography with a strange and wicked twist July 26, 2005
Niya (USA)
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
As a biography of Bellini, this book is a good read and provides much information. If, however, you're looking for new AND objective views on Bellini's works and their 20th century interpreters (singers), I suggest you run away from this book. This book is really a by-product of the author's personal devotion to Maria Callas, and it's rather obvious once you realize that the author has written 3 books on the famous singer. He does not hide his bias, as the inscription reads: "... for Maria Callas and Tullio Serafin."Not surprisingly, in this book the author repeatedly preaches Callas' "genius" and has absolutely nothing bad to write about her singing. To him, Callas is the one and only gold standard in the "true" Bellinian style. This shockingly narrow perspective is extremely disturbing in this seemingly objective, "definitive" biography of the composer. The author has almost nothing good to say about another equally famous Bellini interpreter -- Joan Sutherland. He reluctantly acknowledges her "ease of the upper register" but dimisses her art and technique as mere "facility." Callas, on the other hand, is "perfection" (whereas any objective listener will point out that Callas is never without shortcomings). Rather predictably, he places Callas on the same level and category of Pasta and Malibran. What a surprise.If you happen to be a defensive Callas fanatic, the author's comments might suit your taste. However, if you appreciate and enjoy styles and possibilities of interpretation other than that of Callas, the author's prejudiced writing can be unbelievably laughable, naive, ignorant, one-sided, not to mention offensive, insulting, disgusting and infuriating. I'm an admirer of Callas' art myself, but I find this kind of blind devotion very limiting and harmful to the arts. What a shame - this book could have been a fine biography if only the author could resist promoting Callas inappropriately at the same time.The author's opinions on the operas themselves aren't exactly refreshing or original, either. Here you will find some hackneyed criticism on the less established operas, especially "Beatrice di Tenda". Personally, I find the music thrilling and agree with the composer that "Beatrice" is a worthy sister of "Norma". Who knows, had Callas picked up and championed this role, maybe the author of this book would have a different opinion on this unjustly neglected opera?This book contains poison for the sensitive soul of the genuine lover of Bellini's music. Proceed with caution.
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