Paul Morphy and Vincenzo Bellini

Paul Morphy and Vincenzo Bellini

by Boris Schipkov

Morphy, P. - Duke of Brunswick and Count Isouard (in consultation), [C41]
Paris 1858

A brilliant and easy game of the ingenious American Paul Morphy against Duke Karl and Count Isouard was held in October, 1858 in the Italian Opera in Paris. A beautiful music of Vincenzo Bellini in "Norma" (as written by Milne Edge, Paul Morphy's secretary) magically affected the game.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Bg4 A risky move. 4. dxe5 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 dxe5 6. Bc4 Nf6 7. Qb3
A double blow. 7...Qe7 8. Nc3
Continuing development of the pieces. 8...c6 9. Bg5 b5

10. Nxb5! Morphy does not recede!
10...cxb5 11. Bxb5+ Nbd7 12. O-O-O Rd8 13. Rxd7!
Fireworks of blows!
13...Rxd7 14. Rd1 Qe6 15. Bxd7+ Nxd7 16. Qb8+!

Finishing the beautiful symphony. 16...Nxb8 17. Rd8 checkmate! 1-0

Nowadays a nice opera by Vincenzo Bellini "Norma" is one of the most popular in the world. From 1998 till 2000 there were 154 performances "Norma" in the world. This opera occupies the 33rd place by the quantity of performances in the world among approximately 400 opera. The first place is occupied by the opera by Giacomo Puccini "La Bohème", the second - the opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart "Magic flute", the third - the opera by George Bizet "Carmen".

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