Gaetano Donizetti

Domenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti (Italian: [doˈmeːniko ɡaeˈtaːno maˈriːa donidˈdzetti]; 29 November 1797 – 8 April 1848) was an Italian composer. Along with Gioachino Rossini and Vincenzo Bellini, Donizetti was a leading composer of the bel canto opera style during the first half of the nineteenth century.

Donizetti was born in Bergamo in Lombardy. Although he did not come from a musical background, at an early age he was taken under the wing of composer Simon Mayr who had enrolled him by means of a full scholarship in a school which he had set up. There he received detailed training in the arts of fugue and counterpoint. Mayr was also instrumental in obtaining a place for the young man at the Bologna Academy, where, at the age of 19, he wrote his first one-act opera, the comedy Il Pigmalione, which may not have ever been performed during his lifetime.

Over the course of his career, Donizetti wrote almost 70 operas. An offer in 1822 from Domenico Barbaja, the impresario of the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples, which followed the composer's ninth opera, led to his move to that city and his residency there which lasted until the production of Caterina Cornaro in January 1844. In all, Naples presented 51 of Donizetti's operas.

Podcasts:

Gaetano Donizetti

ALBUMS

Lucia of Lammermoor (Geoffrey Mitchell Choir, Philharmonia Orchestra feat. conductor: David Parry)

Released 2002

Lucia di Lammermoor (Orchestra e coro dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia feat. conductor: John Pritchard)

Released 2001

Lucia di Lammermoor (Orchestra Sinfonica e Coro di Torina della Rai, feat. conductor: Francesco Molinari Pradelli, singers: Cappuccilli, Scotto, Pavarotti)

Released 1997

Linda di Chamounix (Mikaeli Chamber Choir & Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra feat. conductor: Friedrich Haider)

Released 1993

Anna Bolena (L'Orchestra et Coro del Teatro alla Scala feat. conductor: Gianandrea Gavazzeni)

Released 1993

Don Pasquale (Orchestra e Coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, feat. conductor: Bruno Rigacci, singers: Corena, Alberti, Alva, Scotto)

Released 1992

L'elisir d'amore

Released 1990

Born: 1797-11-29

Died: 1848-04-08

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