On The Artistic Characteristics Of I Puritani From The Perspective Of The Character Elvira

Vincenzo Bellini is one of the representative composers of the Italian romantic opera in the early nineteenth century. His creativity found its best expression in the melody writing. His melody reduced the Rossinian coloratura and expressed the sincere emotions of the characters with its unsophisticated quality, which represented the typical characteristics of Italian opera.It is also this remarkable feature that has blinded people, who seemed to only pay attention to the beautiful lyric melody, to the dramatic significance of Bellini's operas. Actually, just like every other excellent opera composers, Bellini was also an outstanding dramatist. His dramatic expression was conveyed by his unique musical language.1 Puritani, the last of Bellini's operas, was based on the typical pattern of the subject of literature and opera:it centered on the contradiction of political and religious beliefs and the love between characters from opposite sides. This thesis takes this opera as a case study, examines Bellini's conception of opera, the presentation of the dramatic conflict, the application of his musical language and the representation of his characters, and thus demonstrates the characteristics of Bellini's dramatic expression. In so doing, the author attempts to provide a deeper and wider understanding of Bellini's operas, a better grasp of his style, and a more proper interpretation of his works.The thesis is made up of four parts. The first part gives an outline of Bellini's life and a general introduction of the composition of I Puritani. The second part analyzes the whole structure of this opera in terms of dramatic expression. The third part discusses Bellini's methods of dramatic expression by examining the arias, recitatives, ensembles and choruses. The fourth part summarizes the dramatic features of Bellini's opera and its interpretation. In the exploration of the opera I Puritani, the author compares it with some similar sections from Verdi's La Travita and tries to further reveal the stylistic characteristics of Bellini's operas.