Il Pirata. Melodramma in due atti, composto e ridoto per il Cembalo... Prezzo 36F. [Piano-vocal score]

Paris: Maurice Schlesinger [PN M.S. 898], 1830. Folio. Dark-brown leather backed mid-tan boards, spine in decorative compartments gilt, titling gilt, with "Madame Ch. Saglio" to tail of spine. 1f. (fine lithographic title by Engelmann within a highly decorative border incorporating musical instruments and illustrating a scene from the opera within a circular border at head), 1f. (recto contents, cast list, musical incipits, verso blank), [1] (blank), 2-209 pp.

Binding slightly worn, rubbed, and bumped; spine somewhat defective. Title very slightly foxed. A very attractive, crisp and clean copy overall. An early edition. OCLC 22068521. The first edition was published in Milan in 1828.

In two acts to a libretto by Felice Romani after Isidore J. S. Taylor's play Bertram, ou Le pirate (a version of Charles Maturin's Bertram), Il pirata was first performed in Milan at the Teatro alla Scala on October 27, 1827. It was Bellini's first collaboration with the librettist Romani, who went on to write six additional operas for Bellini.

"ll pirata played a significant role in establishing the style of the Romantic melodramma later developed by Donizetti and Verdi. The tormented, impulsive hero of Italian Romantic opera is presented for the first time in Gualtiero's opening cavatina." Simon Maguire and Elizabeth Forbes in Grove Music Online.