Bel canto (”beautiful singing”) refers to the art and science of vocal technique that had originated in Italy during the late seventeenth century and had reached its pinnacle in the early part of the nineteenth century during the Bel Canto opera era.

Sicilian opera composer Vincenzo Bellini, known for his flowing melodic lines, is the quintessential composer of Bel canto opera.

Bellini and his Italian contemporaries Gaetano Donizetti and Gioacchino Rossini best exemplify this style, which flourishes from approximately 1805 to 1830.

Bellini, who had moved in 1827 to Milan, where all doors are open to him, is supported solely by his opera commissions, for this year’s La straniera is even more successful than last year’s Il pirata, sparking controversy in the press for its new style and its restless harmonic shifts into remote keys.