Bel Canto

13 hrs. 22 min.

Language Russian

Author Ann Patchett

Narrator Kirill Petrov

Description

In one of the countries of South America, at the mansion of the vice president, a lavish reception is held in honor of the birthday of an influential Japanese businessman, Mr. Hosokawa. High-ranking guests from around the world are enchanted by a specially invited star—the legendary opera singer Roxana Coss. Suddenly, the lights go out in the hall. Armed terrorists storm the house and take hostage both the singer and her audience.

The story begins with universal horror in the face of what seems like inevitable death, but gradually turns into something completely different: a story about beauty and art.

A story of how, among strangers speaking different languages—and even between bandits and their captives—mutual understanding, friendship, and… love begin to grow. Neither the terrorists nor the hostages want to think about the deadly danger anymore. But it threatens them all.

First published in Russian in 2003 under the title “Hostages.”