BELLINI, VINCENZO. - Musician, b. at Catania on 1 Nov. 1801, d. at Puteaux (Paris) on 24 Sept. 1835. The son of an organist, he studied at the college of S. Sebastiano in Naples, directed by Zingarelli, who was his teacher. After the performance of Adelson e Salvini (1825) in the college’s small theatre, he was commissioned by the well-known impresario Barbaja to write Bianca e Fernando (1826) for the theatre of S. Carlo, which was favourably received, and Il Pirata (1827) for La Scala in Milan, which enjoyed great success. Having settled in this city, he continued his activity as an opera composer: La Straniera (Milan 1829) met with less success, and Zaira (Parma 1829) was a definite failure; but
popular favour returned to him with I Capuleti e i Montecchi (Venice 1830), and above all with La Sonnambula (Milan 1831) and Norma (Milan 1831), although the latter received a cool reception on its opening night. After the failure of Beatrice di Tenda (Venice 1833), he wrote and staged in Paris his last opera, I Puritani (1835). Noteworthy is his output in the field of church music, which includes numerous Tantum ergo, several Salve Regina, a Credo, a Te Deum, a Magnificat, two Masses with Vespers, and a Messa di gloria.