Editing Vincenzo Bellini (section)

=== ''Bianca e Gernando'' ===
[[File:Carlo De Falco - Ritratto di Francesco I.jpg|thumb|upright|King [[Francis I of the Two Sicilies|Francesco I]], who gave his personal approval to Bellini's ''[[Bianca e Gernando]]'']]

The young composer chose [[Domenico Gilardoni]], a young writer who then prepared his first libretto, which he named ''Bianca e Fernando'', based on an 1820 play, ''Bianca e Fernando alla tomba di Carlo IV, Duca d'Agrigento'' and set in Sicily.

However, the title ''Bianca e Fernando'' had to be changed, because Ferdinando was the name of the [[Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies|heir to the throne]], and no form of it could be used on a royal stage. After some delays caused by King [[Francis I of the Two Sicilies|Francesco I]] forcing postponement, the opera—now named ''[[Bianca e Gernando]]''—was given its premiere performance at the Teatro di San Carlo on 30 May 1826, Prince Ferdinando's name day.

It was very successful, helped by the approval of the King, who broke the custom of there being no applause at a performance attended by royalty.<ref name=GALA54>{{harvnb|Galatopoulos|2002|pp=54–55}}</ref> It was also attended by Donizetti who enthusiastically wrote to [[Simon Mayr]]: "It is beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, especially as it is his first opera."<ref>Donzietti to Mayr, quoted in {{harvnb|Galatopoulos|2002|p=54}}</ref> Bellini's music was highly regarded, with the ''Giornale delle Due Sicilie'' on 13 June noting that "[several of the arias and duets] are some of the most laudable pieces of new music heard in recent times at the [San Carlo]."<ref name=GALA54/> However, there were reservations about Gilardoni's contribution.

Within nine months, in February/March 1827, Domenico Barbaja offered Bellini a commission for an opera to be presented in the autumn of 1827 at [[Teatro alla Scala|La Scala]] in Milan, of which between 1821 and 1832, Barbaja was also part of the management.{{sfn|Galatopoulos|2002|pp=57–58}}<ref name="WEIN30–34">{{harvnb|Weinstock|1971|pp=30–34}}</ref>