Giuseppe Persiani

He wrote his first opera - one of 11 - in 1826 but, after his marriage to the soprano Fanny Tacchinardi Persiani, who was to become a significant singer in her time, he devoted much of his efforts to supporting her career.

His best-known opera, Inês de Castro, from a libretto by Salvadore Cammarano (who also wrote the libretto for Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor the same year), was created in 1835 for the celebrated mezzo-soprano Maria Malibran, who sang the role of the 14th-century Portuguese queen of the same name.

The opera was first presented at La Scala in January 1837 but by that time, Malibran had died.

While it was given about 60 productions over a period of 16 years, after 1851 it was rarely, if ever, presented but was revived in the 20th Century in the Italian town of Jesi to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Persiani's birth.

His birthplace, the town of Recanati, has named an opera house after the composer, the Teatro Persiani.