Saturday, July 13, 2019
The Performing Arts Center at Purchase College

Wednesday, July 17, 2019
Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall

Melodramma in two acts by Vincenzo Bellini

Libretto: Felice Romani, based on the historical novel L'Étrangère by Charles-Victor Prévot

Premiere: 14 February 1829
Teatro alla Scala, Milan

Alaide (La Straniera) Christine Lyons, soprano
Isoletta Alina Tamborini, soprano
Arturo Derrek Stark, tenor
Valdeburgo Steven LaBrie, baritone
Il Priore Vincent Grana, bass
Montolino Dorian McCall, bass-baritone
Osburgo Isaac Frishman, tenor

Teatro Nuovo Chorus and Orchestra
Will Crutchfield, maestro al cembalo
Jakob Lehmann, primo violino e capo d’orchestra

 

ABOUT LA STRANIERA (THE STRANGER)

Quick facts:

  • The second Bellini opera to reach America (New York, 1834, after Il Pirata in 1832)
  • Verdi praised its “long long long melodies” and Wagner its “true passion and feeling.”
  • Bellini wanted one tenor, got another, rewrote later for the first one, and then told everyone the previous version was better.

The late Philip Gossett called La Straniera Bellini’s “most radical opera.” Written in 1829 to follow up Il Pirata, whose La Scala debut had made the young Sicilian the most sought-after composer in Italy, it is one of the most gorgeously melodic scores in all of opera, and at the same time one of the most uncompromisingly focused on psychological drama. Read More.