In 2001, novelist Ann Patchett published Bel Canto, a gorgeous and suspenseful introduction to the world of opera music. If you have a Spotify account, enjoy this playlist collecting 30 songs mentioned in the novel–two hours of writing music.
Here’s an excerpt from Bel Canto, describing the first song on the playlist: “[He] chose Rusalka as a measure of his respect for [the singer]. It was the centerpiece of her repertoire and would require no extra preparation on her behalf, a piece that surely would have been included in the program had he not requested it … He simply wanted to hear her sing Rusalka while standing close to her in a room. If a human soul should dream of me, may he still remember me on awaking! His translator had written it out for him from the Czech years ago.”
Follow this link to get a Spotify invite for the free service. Once you have an account, check out our Ann Patchett Spotify Playlist and our Henry Miller Spotify Playlist. If you have more ideas for a particular playlist, you can always add your suggestions in the comments section–we will update our mix.
30 Songs on Spotify from Ann Patchett’s Bel Canto
Münchner Rundfunkorchester – Rusalka: Song to the Moon (Act I)
Ian Bostridge – Die Forelle D550 (Schubart)
Choeurs Rene Duclos – Les Contes d’Hoffmann (2003 Digital Remaster), Act III: Entr’acte (Orchestra)…Belle nuite, ô nuit d’amour : Barcarolle (Une voix/Giulietta/Chorus)
Maria Callas – O Mio Babbino Caro
Maria Callas – The Barber of Seville : Una Voce Poco Fa
Luciano Pavarotti – Verdi: Rigoletto / Act 3 – “La donna è mobile”
Luciano Pavarotti – Verdi: Rigoletto / Act 3 – “Bella figlia dell’amore”
Luciano Pavarotti – Verdi: Rigoletto / Act 1 – “Questa o quella…Partite? Crudele!”
Maria Callas – Rigoletto (1997 Digital Remaster), Act II: Tutte le feste al tempio (Rigoletto/Gilda)
Marilyn Richardson, Queensland Symphony Orchestra and Vladimir Kamirski – Eugene Onegin, Op. 24, Act 1: Puskai pogibnu ya, no pryezhde (Letter Aria)
Stuart Burrows, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and Sir Georg Solti – Eugene Onegin, Op. 24, Act 2: Kuda, kuda vï udalilis
Ian Watson – Alcina – Opera in three acts HWV34 (libretto after an episode from ‘Orlando furioso’ by Ludovico Ariosto) (performing edition by Clifford Bartlett) (2006 Digital Remaster), Act II, Scene 13: Aria: Ombre pallide, lo so, mi udite (Alcina)
Jeanne Lamon, Tafelmusik Orchestra – Alcina – Aria “Tornami A Vagheggiar” (Handel)
Joan Sutherland, Patricia Price, Richard Greager, Sergei Baigildin, Malcolm Donnelly, Clifford Grant, The Australian Opera Chorus, Elizabethan Sydney Orchestra and Richard Bonynge – Lucia di Lammermoor, Act 2: Chi mi frena in tal momento (Sextet)
Maria Callas – Lucia Di Lammermoor : Spargi D’Amore Pianto
Maria Callas – La Sonnambula : Come Per Me Sereno
Alessandro De Marchi – Bellini: La Sonnambula / Act 2 – Ah! non credea mirarti si presto estinto, o fiore
Maria Callas – La Sonnambula (1987 Digital Remaster): Compagne, temiri amici ….Come per me sereno
Bellini – Come Per Me Sereno (La Sonnambula)
Martha Jurowski – Rusalka: Act I: Aria: Ach, so seid ihr nun, alle jungen Madchen (Mullers)
Martha Jurowski – Rusalka: Act III: Aria: Horch, ist das nicht sein Horn? Nein, nein er (Furstin)
Martha Jurowski – Rusalka: Act II: Aria: Ihr, meiner Kindheit Gefahrtinnen, lebt wohl (Furstin, Furst, Chorus)
Maria Callas – The Barber of Seville : Una Voce Poco Fa
Maria Callas – Rigoletto : Gualtier Maldè!… Caro Nome
Verdi – Ritorna Vincitor (Aida)
Rossini – Non Si Da Follia Magiore (IL Turco In Italia)
Bellini – Sovra Il Sen La Man Mi Posa (La Sonnambula)
Bellini – Son Vergin Vezzosa (IL Puritani)
Verdi – Gualtier Malde (Rigoletto)
Bellini – Casta Diva (Norma)