Abstract
My lecture recital will present various transcriptions for the violin of the most celebrated operatic arias from the bel canto period. Bel canto, literally “beautiful singing,” refers to the signature Italian operatic singing style of the Romantic period, starting in the 1830s, peaking in the 1890s, and continuing today. These transcriptions offer a revival of the Italian operatic models from Vincenzo Bellini and Giuseppe Verdi, providing violinists with a distinctive approach towards the art of singing on the violin. The Influence of the bel canto vocal style applied to violin playing will help define the uniqueness of the sound that is naturally born within us. Therefore, implementing principles of bel canto vocal style will contribute to a substantial change in quality of sound, overall control of vibrato, and natural phrasing. I will approach this repertory with a focus on three main elements that I found to be useful when thinking of violin playing from an operatic vocal standpoint: tone production, vibrato, and phrasing. Playing works primarily written for the voice will help access freedom of imagination, allowing violinists to explore new paths when approaching these elements. Finally, by performing bel canto operatic transcriptions for violin I shall strive to convey the story behind and emotions that I feel are so compelling in these arias.