Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835) is most widely known for his contribution to the development of the Italian Romantic Musical language and for bringing bel canto opera into popularity. Although Bellini was less prolific than his contemporaries, his work is still highly regarded today and his works remain fundamental to opera repertoires around the globe.

Bellini was the oldest of seven children and grew up in a family of musicians. A child prodigy, he began playing the piano at age three and completed his first composition at age six, under the guidance of his grandfather.

At age eighteen, Bellini left for Naples to study at the conservatory. It was at the conservatory that Bellini's Adelson e Salvini was presented and Bianca e Fernando (later changed to Bianca e Gernando) was commissioned for a gala evening at the Teatro San Carlo.

After this burst of success Bellini’s progress slowed for a short time. It wasn't until 1827, that Bellini laid the foundation of his career with his third opera, Il pirata, which was wildly popular. Between 1827 and 1833 critical acclaim of Bellini's works brought his entry into higher social circles, a place where he could make his living solely on opera commissions. It was also during this period that he completed La straniera (1828), which was even more successful than Il pirata and sparked controversy in the press over its new style and its restless harmonic shifts into remote keys. Opening a new theater in Parma, Bellini’s Zaira (1829) was a failure at the Teatro Ducale, but Venice soon welcomed I Capuleti e i Montecchi (1930), which was based on the same Italian sources as Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Assisting in the creation of all of these operas, from Il pirata to Norma, was librettist, Felice Romani, who was a well loved theater poet at the time.

In March 1830, Bellini recognized his arrival at mastery and wrote: "My style is now heard in the most important theaters in the world . . . and with the greatest enthusiasm." La sonnambula and Norma, both completed in 1831, placed Bellini in the forefront of popularity in his Italian career and in 1833 his popularity spread throughout Europe and into America.

Bellini's last opera, I puritani, was written for Paris in 1835. At the time of its composition, Bellini was also building a relationship with Rossini, the "presiding genius of operatic life" in Paris.

Bellini’s untimely death cut I puritani short. Vincenzo Bellini passed away at age 34 while in Puteaux, a town near Paris. His remains were buried in Père Lachaise, Paris but were removed to the cathedral of Catania in 1876. Today, Bellini’s scores are preserved at The Museo Belliniano, in Catania.