Gaetano Donizetti Program Notes and Sheet Music

Gaetano Donizetti (November 29, 1797 – April 8, 1848) was an Italian composer, best known for his operas. He was one of the leading composers of the bel canto opera style during the first half of the nineteenth century.

Donizetti was born in Bergamo, Italy. He studied music with Simon Mayr, and began composing operas in his early twenties. His first opera, "La Zingara," was premiered in Naples in 1822. Donizetti quickly became one of the most popular opera composers in Italy, and his operas were performed all over Europe.

Donizetti's operas are known for their beautiful melodies, their dramatic plots, and their demanding vocal parts. Some of his most famous operas include "Lucia di Lammermoor," "La fille du régiment," and "La favorite."

Donizetti's health began to decline in the early 1840s, and he died in 1848 at the age of 50. He is buried in Bergamo, Italy.

Donizetti was a major figure in the development of opera, and his music continues to be performed and enjoyed by audiences around the world.