Song of the Dove: a love story

Errol Broome (author)

Sonia Kretschmar (illustrator)

Walker Books, Australia: April 2011

ISBN: 9781921529245

Genre: historical fiction, music, picture book

Issues: relationships, talented

Vincenzo Bellini, now known as a great opera composer, was once a poor singing teacher who fell in love with one of his students, Maddalena.

Unfortunately her father didn't consider Bellini a good match for his daughter and the two were separated. Meeting in secret, the pair vowed to be true to one another. Bellini set out to gain a reputation (and income) through his remarkable music declaring that he and Maddalena would be together forever after his tenth opera.

Opera after opera was greeted with popular acclaim and Maddalena's parents, realising they had misjudged the talented composer, finally relented. Bellini, now caught up in his work and popular acclaim promised to return to claim his bride as soon as he'd seen his ninth opera performed but Maddalena died – it is said of a broken heart. Bellini himself died not long after her, having just completed his tenth opera.

As romantic and dramatic as his operas, Song of the Dove can be read on several levels and gifted readers will catch the reminder that throughout history, humans have tended to become so caught up in their work that they forget to dedicate time to those they love. Errol Broome's text manages to cover a significant period of time concisely without losing the dramatic force of the narrative. Kretschmar's illustrations are exquisitely detailed and capture Maddalena's longing for her lover and the way Bellini feels torn between his music and his beloved, as well as bringing to live the time in which the couple lived.

Readers are carried well beyond the text into a world where music – especially opera - was today's cinema; where composers were as famous as great film actors are today; and where women had few rights and social standing was everything.