I Puritani

Here, the voice reigns supreme. This lyric work traces the musical development of the young Italian composer since his previous key works, The Capulets and the Montagues, The Sleepwalker, and Norma. Peaking in The Puritans, Bellini’s exceptional sense of melody and lyricism became his signature and distinguished him notably from Donizetti and Rossini. The undeniable whiff of romanticism exuded by this opera owes a lot to the libretto inspired by the Scottish poet Walter Scott. The orchestral colour and writing for voice reinforce this feeling. The young south african tenor Levy Sekgapane will play Arturo opposite Elvira sung by the hugely talented Jessica Pratt, one of the finest bel canto singers of her generation. A sublime vocal celebration, “opera must make the audience weep, shudder, and die,” according to the composer. We are guaranteed to weep and shudder this evening

Production Théâtre des Champs-Elysées