Bellini’s Il pirata became an international must-see in mid-18th-century Europe. His third opera, the work was written for La Scala in Milan and brought Bellini to the attention of the musical press, who hailed him as an exciting new talent.

Containing the first full-scale mad scene in operatic history, Il pirata signified the advent of a new Romantic opera style. Well and truly aligned with the concept of the Gothic novel, the sense of evil is prominent right until the final moment – the work contains what were then new levels of dramaticism that embrace the notion of tragedy, and did not conform to the norm of what the 18th century considered to be a happy ending.