Sunday 16 November 6pm

Jewels of Italian Bel Canto 

Bianca Barsanti, soprano

Carlo Deri, piano

This programme presents some of the best-loved masterpieces of 19th-century Italian opera: the lyrical purity of Vincenzo Bellini, the lively freshness of Gaetano Donizetti, the deep drama of Giuseppe Verdi, and the passionate, contrast-filled tragedy of Pietro Mascagni.

Programme:

Vincenzo Bellini: Eccomi in lieta vesta; Oh! Quante volte, from I Capuleti e i Montecchi

Gaetano Donizetti: Quel guardo il cavaliere; So anch’io la virtù magica, from Don Pasquale

Pietro Mascagni: Preludio e Siciliana, from Cavalleria rusticana (piano)

Vincenzo Bellini: Casta Diva, from Norma

Interval

Vincenzo Bellini: Ah! non credea mirarti, from La Sonnambula

Gaetano Donizetti: Prendi, per me sei libero, from L’elisir d’amore

Giuseppe Verdi: Preludio, Atto Primo, (piano)

È strano; Sempre libera degg’io, from La Traviata 

About the performers:

Bianca Barsanti, soprano, graduated in Opera Singing from the Istituto Musicale “P. Mascagni” in Livorno. She holds a second-level degree in Musical Disciplines from the Conservatorio “A. Vivaldi” in Alessandria and a degree in Modern Literature from the University of Pisa, both awarded with top honours. Alongside her work in opera, she specialises in early chamber music.

Carlo Deri, composer, pianist, librettist and conductor, graduated from the “L. Cherubini” Conservatory in Florence, where he studied composition with Carlo Prosperi, as well as choral music and orchestral conducting. His works include orchestral scores, piano pieces, an opera based on a subject by R.L. Stevenson, songs for voice and piano, and chamber music for ensemble.

Tickets

Standard: £15

Under 25s/students/unwaged: £7.50

Pay What You Can

Under 18s: FREE

Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes

Doors open at 5.30pm