Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835) was a Sicilian-born Italian opera composer and one of the defining voices of the bel canto era. In a career cut short at 33, he produced nine operas - among them Norma, La sonnambula and I puritani - whose long, arching melodies drew admiration from Verdi, Wagner, Chopin and Liszt alike. His works remain core repertoire at the world's leading opera houses nearly two centuries after his death.
The Metropolitan Opera staged its first new production of I puritani in nearly 50 years, with soprano Lisette Oropesa and tenor Lawrence Brownlee in the lead roles.
The Vienna State Opera screened a Bellini production featuring Pretty Yende and Javier Camarena at the open-air Rathausplatz film festival on 12 July 2026.
The Metropolitan Opera broadcast its new production of La sonnambula on the international radio network on 25 April 2026.
The Metropolitan Opera opened its 2025-26 season with a new production of La sonnambula, directed by Rolando Villazón and starring soprano Nadine Sierra - the first new Met staging of the opera since 2008.
Teatro Regio di Torino mounted a new production of I puritani, conducted by Francesco Lanzillotta, with performances running from late April through May 2026.
