It isn’t unusual to see a violinist — rather than a maestro — leading a small orchestra in early music, or in works from the Baroque or Classical eras. It is extremely rare, however, to see one conducting bel canto operas, with their larger ensembles and layered rhythms, often delivered at a sprint.

But that is the practice of Teatro Nuovo, a fledgling company that presents bel canto works as they likely were at their premieres: with a violinist, the concertmaster, juggling the head-spinning tasks of keeping together an entire orchestra and cast of singers, while also playing as a member of the violin section — virtuosic solos included.

At Teatro Nuovo’s coming performances — of Bellini’s “La Straniera” (1829) and Rossini’s “La Gazza Ladra” (1817), presented this weekend at The Performing Arts Center at Purchase College in Westchester County, then at the Rose Theater in Manhattan next week — that courageous violinist will be Jakob Lehmann, a 27-year-old Berliner and bel canto wunderkind.

“Leading from the instrument always has its challenges, which means you never play as well as you could,” said Mr. Lehmann, who this season is also taking on the role of associate artistic director of Teatro Nuovo. “You have so many other things to do, and you have to use your body in a way that is not coherent with the way you would play if you did not have to.”