The “Son vergin vezzosa“ Contest - Vincenzo Bellini - I puritani - “Son vergin vezzosa“ (Joan Sutherland) (1960)

Bellini wrote so many absolutely irresistible arias that it is very difficult to choose the best one. Many will remember the genius “Casta Diva“, the gentle Amina arias “Come per me sereno“ and “Ah! non credea mirati“, the glorious “A te, o cara“... The list goes on and on. But one aria stands out in the list of Bellini’s arias: the quite delightful polonaise aria for Elvira from “I Puritani“ “Son vergin vezzosa“, a gentle piece, almost Rossinian in its peaceful happiness. One of my all time favorite arias,