John Weeks Moore

“ Arriving at Paris in 1833, he first studied the taste of the inhabitants of that great city, and then went to London to direct the arrangement in a scene of one of his works ; and on his return to Paris in 1834, he wrote "I Puritani" for the Italian Theatre of that city. The good fortune with which Bellini had even to this time been blessed still smiled upon him, on this occasion, in affording him the most satisfactory combination of singers that could be made- Rubini, Tamburini, Lablache and Mlle. Grisi, each in their sphere, possessing talents of the highest order. ”

“ Nevertheless, if the singers favored the author of the "Puritani," he had also the merit of disposing these singers in his work in such a manner as to present them under the most favorable aspect.
Bellini had learned, while he was at Paris, that the French public was not enchanted by two or three small pieces, and that, in order to be successful with them, it was necessary to offer them works composed with more care than the greater part of those which are represented in Italy. Hence it happens that "The Puritans" is a more finished composition than his other operas ”

“ Fortune seemed to favor Bellini also in offering him the best singers of Italy to perform his compositions : thus, for the "Pirata," which was represented at Milan in 1827, and which attracted to its author the attention of the musical world, he had the good fortune to find in Rubini that talent which was best adapted to the principal character in his work. ”