Today's show features the overture to Bellini's opera, the masterpiece "Norma", as well as a duet and a trio from this same opera. Also heard on today's show are Gershwin's "An American in Paris", Spanish music for the guitar, the music from Aaron Copland's "Rodeo", and a flute sonata by J.S. Bach. Vincenzo Bellini was born in Catania, Sicily in 1801, and was known as "the swan of Catania" because of his long-breathed, flowing, beautiful melodies. He is generally regarded as the most "bel" (beautiful) of the bel canto opera composers of the first part of the nineteenth century. "Norma", "I Capeletti e i Montechi", and "I Puritani" are still widely performed today. Along with J.S. Bach, he was one of the composers most admired by Chopin, and was inspirational for Chopin's melodic style. He passed away at the age of 34, in the year 1835. Christopher Parkening, whose guitar is heard at the close of the first hour of today's show, is still very much alive and well, and performing on the stages of the world. He is an avid fly-fisherman, teaches master classes, and pursues his devout faith in Christianity.
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