Today, on the birthday of Vincenzo Salvatore Carmelo Francesco Bellini (03.11.1801-23.09.1835) – Italian composer who entered the history of musical culture as an outstanding master of belcanto, our traditional column ‘Exhibit in Details’ features another item from the museum Collection repository – a musical box with pinned metal cylinder, created in Switzerland circa 1880.

Vincenzo Bellini was born in a harbour town in Italy on the island of Sicily. His father earned a living playing the organ at religious services and teaching music. The background provided the boy with the opportunity to learn music from childhood. To pursue music professionally, he petitioned the City Council, and was awarded a scholarship. This money allowed him to move to Naples and enter the conservatory, where for four years the young musician studied with the best teachers.

The professor of composition Antonio Zingarelli, by virtue of his well-developed intuition and professional instincts, quickly recognised the student's enormous creative potential. In February 1825, Vincenzo presented his first work in the opera genre. The premiere of Vincenzo Bellini's first opera, “Adelson and Salvini”, a semi-serious drama in two acts, took place in the auditorium of the San Sebastiano Conservatory Theatre in Naples. Students from the same conservatoire were involved in the roles and the orchestra at the premiere.

After a successful debut, Bellini began to receive regular commissions. His career developed rapidly, giving the musical community cause to discuss the young man's phenomenal talent for opera. Soon the famous Milanese theatre La Scala claimed the right to stage a new opera by Bellini. By 1827, the author had written an opera for the legendary theatre repertory troupe based on the text of Charles Maturins romantic tragedy “The Pirate” (Il Pirata).

In his work on the music of the opera and on corrections to the libretto, Bellini showed the full force of his talent. Bellini's own style first appeared in “The Pirate”. The influence of this opera can be seen in many works by composers of the subsequent period, from Donizetti to early Wagner.

When staged at the Teatro alla Scala, the opera was directed for the first time in history. Before this production, both soloists and chorus stood motionless on stage and demonstrated their vocal talents. The plot of ‘The Pirate’ is so fascinating, and Bellini put so much soul into the music, that the composer suddenly realized – it was impossible to let the soloists just sing – they were obliged to show the audience their feelings and emotions on stage. The triumph of “The Pirate” made the unknown provincial Vincenzo Bellini a European celebrity.

The premiere of the opera “The Pirate” by Italian composer Vincenzo Bellini took place on October 27, 1827. One of the melodies sounded in this musical work was encoded on a pinned metal cylinder, embedded in a music box presented in the museum Collection repository in the section ”Musical boxes”.

Musical box is mounted in a tin rectangular case, with green coloured panels decorated with black floral border. A monochrome landscape with sailing and rowing boats on the lake surface, with the castle of Marksburg on an arduous hill above the town of Braubach in Rheinland-Pfalz and buildings at the foot of the mountain on the shore of the lake is on the hinged lid. A framed label with the handwritten list of tunes is on the lid inner side. The inscription ‘Brauback’ on the rim. A musical mechanism with metal pinned cylinder for three tunes, a steel comb and a spring-loaded drive are under the lid. A button for switching on the musical mechanism is on the front panel, a button for switching melodies is on the left side. Colored field with a hole with pin for winding the musical mechanism is on the case bottom panel. Inside is a piece of chequered paper with a handwritten description of the item in French. Inside is a piece of chequered paper with a handwritten description of the item in French.

Three melodies are encoded on the pinned metal cylinder:
‘Volkslied van neerland’ (National Anthem of the Netherlands);
“Afpens den snehels valls” (Down below, behind the wall of snow).
A melody from the opera “The Pirate” (Il pirata) by Italian composer Vincenzo Bellini.