There are over 40 appointments scheduled for the next edition of Bellinfest. The music festival dedicated to Vincenzo Bellini, father of Italian romantic melodrama will begin on 7 September and will end on 6 October. A month full of events on the bill with the greatest artists of world opera.
To pay homage to the author of Norma, the Region of Sicily has thought of an itinerant event between Catania, Taormina and Messina. On the program symphonic and chamber concerts, theatrical performances, dance, meetings, film reviews, study days and round tables. It starts on 7 September with “La straniera”, then space for “I Capuleti ei Montecchi” and “La Sonnambula”.
Bellinfest, concerts and operas on stage in Taormina
All three events will be held at the Casa del Cinema in Taormina. In the first weekend of the Bellinfest there are many scheduled appointments not to be missed:
Friday September 10th
- 21.00 pm - Norma in Jazz - Concert - Villa Bellini Orchestra Paolo Fresu (trumpet player) and Paolo Silvestri (conductor). Reservations can be made 10 days before the event by connecting to the link https://bellininfest.eventbrite.it/
- 21.00 pm - Norma - The Opera on stage - Casa del Cinema (Corso Umberto, 61 - Taormina)
Saturday September 11th
- 21.00 pm - Beatrice in Tenda - The Opera on stage - Casa del Cinema (Corso Umberto, 61 - Taormina)
Sunday September 12th
- 21.00 pm - I Puritani - Opera on stage - Casa del Cinema (Corso Umberto, 61 - Taormina)
- 21.00 pm - Villa Bellini - Bellini in Jazz & Classic in Swing
Film review Bellini at the Cinema
From September 14, Bellinfest foresees the start of the Bellini Film Festival at the Cinema. The first film projected is "Casta Diva" by Carmine Gallone. This is the program scheduled from 14 to 19 September:
Tuesday 14 September
- 18.00 pm - Casta Diva (Italy, 1935) by Carmine Gallone - Casa del Cinema (Corso Umberto, 61 - Taormina)
- 21.00 pm - Casta Diva (Italy, 1935) by Carmine Gallone - Bellini film review at the cinema
Wednesday 15 September
- 18.30 pm - The divine spark (United Kingdom, 1935) by Carmine Gallone - Casa del Cinema (Corso Umberto, 61 - Taormina)
- 21.00 pm - The divine spark (United Kingdom, 1935) by Carmine Gallone - Casa del Cinema (Corso Umberto, 61 - Taormina)
Thursday September 16
- 21.00 pm - Casta Diva (Italy, 1954) by Carmine Gallone - Bellini film festival at the cinema - Casa del Cinema (Corso Umberto, 61 - Taormina)
Friday September 17th
- 18.30 pm - Casa Ricordi (Italy, 1954) by Carmine Gallone - Bellini film festival at the cinema - Casa del Cinema (Corso Umberto, 61 - Taormina)
- 21.00 pm - Casa Ricordi (Italy, 1954) by Carmine Gallone - Bellini film festival at the cinema - Casa del Cinema (Corso Umberto, 61 - Taormina)
Saturday September 18th
- Fitzcarraldo (Germany, 1982) by Werner Herzog - Bellini film festival at the cinema - Casa del Cinema (Corso Umberto, 61 - Taormina)
Sunday September 19th
- 18.30 pm - Maria by Callas (France, 2017) by Tom Volf - Bellini film festival at the cinema - Casa del Cinema (Corso Umberto, 61 - Taormina)
- At 21.00 pm - Maria by Callas (France, 2017) by Tom Volf - Bellini film festival at the cinema - Casa del Cinema (Corso Umberto, 61 - Taormina)
- 21.00 pm - Bellini Black Comedy - Vittorio Emanuele Theater
Movies, concerts and meetings
The event continues between Messina, Taormina and Catania with screenings, concerts, shows and meetings to talk about Bellini and his works. In particular, on Thursday there will be a rich program of events to commemorate the 186th anniversary of the death of Vincenzo Bellini. This is the program from 20 to 26 September:
Monday 20 September
- 18.00 pm - Prelude to the Opera Norma - Conferences & Presentations - Foyer of the Massimo Bellini Theater (P.zza VE Orlando - Me)
Tuesday 21 September
- 18.30 pm - Callas Forever (Italy, 2002) by Franco Zeffirelli - Film festival - Bellini at the cinema - Casa del Cinema (Corso Umberto, 61 - Taormina)
- 21.00 pm - Callas Forever (Italy, 2002) by Franco Zeffirelli - Bellini film festival at the cinema - Casa del Cinema (Corso Umberto, 61 - Taormina)
Wednesday 22 September
- 10.30 am - Staging Bellini today: three experiences compared - Conferences and Presentations - Foyer of the Massimo Bellini Theater (Via Giuseppe Perrotta, 12 - Catania)
- At 18.30 pm - Norma (Armenia, 2005) by Boris Airapetian - Bellini film festival at the cinema - Casa del Cinema (Corso Umberto, 61 - Taormina)
- 21.00 pm - Norma (Armenia, 2005) by Boris Airapetian - Bellini film festival at the cinema - Casa del Cinema (Corso Umberto, 61 - Taormina)
- At 21.00 pm - Vaga Luna, che inargenti - Concert of the students of the singing classes of the Higher Institute of Musical Studies "Vincenzo Bellini" of Catania - San Giorgi Theater (Via Antonino Di Sangiuliano, 233 - Catania)
Thursday September 23
- 10.00 - Concert - On the 186th anniversary of the death of Vincenzo Bellini - Choir of the Massimo Bellini Theater, Luigi Petrozziello choir master - Music by Vincenzo Bellini Cathedral Basilica (Piazza Duomo - Catania)
- At 17.00 pm - Bellini in the Cinema - Casta Diva Marathon - Casa del Cinema (Corso Umberto, 61 - Taormina)
- 18.00 pm - Norma (Italy, 1911) - Bellini film festival at the cinema - Casa del Cinema Corso Umberto, 61 - Taormina)
- At 18.30 pm - Casta Diva (Italy, 1954) by Carmine Gallone - Bellini film festival at the cinema - Casa del cinema (Corso Umberto, 61 - Taormina)
- 18.30 pm - Casta Diva (Italy, 1935) by Carmine Gallone - Casta Diva Marathon - Casa del cinema (Corso Umberto, 61 - Taormina)
- At 20.30 pm - The Divine Spark (United Kingdom, 1935) by Carmine Gallone - Bellini film festival at the cinema - Casa del cinema (Corso Umberto, 61 - Taormina)
- 21.00 pm - Concert - Norma - Massimo Bellini Theater (Via Giuseppe Perrotta, 12 - Catania)
- At 22.30 pm - Casta Diva (Italy, 1954) by Carmine Gallone - Casta Diva Marathon - Casa del cinema (Corso Umberto, 61 - Taormina)
Friday September 24th
- 10.00 - Norma Studies Meeting: problems and resources of a critical edition - Lectures & Presentations - Foyer of the Massimo Bellini Theater (Via Giuseppe Perrotta, 12 - Catania)
- 17.00 pm - Study meeting the young Bellini: Training and first works - Conferences & Presentations - Palazzo Biscari (Via Museo Biscari, 10 - Catania)
Saturday September 25th
- 10.00 - Conference "... how much truth and power of declamation ...": from Bellini to Verdi - Conferences & Presentations - University of Catania, Aula Magna, University Building (Via Roccaforte - Catania)
- 10.00 - Bellini institutions in the network of research centers on Italian opera: projects and perspectives - University of Catania, Aula Magna, University Building (Via Roccaforte - Catania)
- 21.00 pm - Concert "Bellini and Surroundings" - Massimo Bellini Theater (Via Giuseppe Perrotta, 12 - Catania)
Sunday September 26th
- 21.00 pm - Concert "Bellini Après Bellini" - Massimo Bellini Theater (Via Giuseppe Perrotta, 12 - Catania)
- 21.00 pm - Sicilian Symphony Orchestra - Massimo Bellini Theater (Via Giuseppe Perrotta, 12 - Catania)
How to access Bellinfest
The Bellinfest will end on 6 October with the last evening scheduled at the Massimo Bellini Theater in Catania. Space for the concert "Bellini Wagner Sinopoli" and Flanerie between genius, myth and music:
Thursday September 30
- 21.00 pm - Concert "Orchestra of the Teatro Massimo of Palermo" - Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania
Friday October 1
- 21.00 pm - Orchestra of the Higher Institute of Musical Studies "Vincenzo Bellini" of Catania - Cathedral Basilica (Piazza Duomo - Catania)
Saturday October 2
- 21.00 pm - Concert of the winners of the first international competition "V. Bellini" - Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania
Tuesday 5 October
- 18.00 - Concert Tribute to Giuseppe Sinopoli - Meetings & Round Tables - Palazzo Biscari in Catania
Wednesday 6 October
- 21.00 pm - Concert “Bellini Wagner Sinopoli” - Massimo Bellini Theater in Catania
- 21.00 pm - Bellini Wagner Sinopoli - Flanerie between genius, myth and music - Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania
As foreseen by article 3 of the legislative decree 23 July 2021 n. 105, access to the Bellinfest shows will be allowed following these methods:
- Negative rapid molecular or antigen test carried out within 48 hours prior to entry
- First dose of vaccine
- Complete vaccination cycle
- Certificate certifying that you have been cured of Covid-19 in the past 6 months
Children under the age of 12 and those who have a suitable medical certification issued according to the criteria defined in a circular from the Ministry of Health are exempt. It will be mandatory to wear a mask and respect social distancing.
The events will be held in compliance with the current health provisions: in absolute safety, numbered seats on the map and nominal tickets.
featured photograph source: Evan Erickson - Own work, Public domain
Bellini. Sicilian like me. Great musician