Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
Opera is the big symbol in this book. It's center stage like a pop star sweeping the Grammys. Or whatever the opera equivalent of the Grammys is.
So what's opera doing with all the limelight, symbolically speaking? A heck of a lot. Patchett writes about exploration, art, love, communication, and community, and opera's smack dab in the middle of all that.
If that's not enough, opera also provides individual stories that let Patchett say something about particular moments in the book (see more about this in the "Allusions" section). Is opera up to the task? Shmoop thinks so.
Opera is a big, dramatic art form that deals with human emotions and experiences at their most intense. Like, say, a hostage situation—just to pick an example at random. And it turns those big, intense emotions into a beautiful and passionate performance that can change your life. Or at least make you wish you had a shield half as cool as that Rhine maiden.
That makes opera perfect for showing the intense transformation of a tough experience, which is exactly what Bel Canto is doing. You can read more in the "Allusions" section on individual operas, and more in the intro material on why opera is perfect for Bel Canto. The title is even Italian for "beautiful singing" (see "What's Up With the Title?" for the deets). If that doesn't convince you that music is a pretty hard-hitter here, well, go listen to some Puccini and come back later.