Gaetano Donizetti

Gaetano Donizetti - Musicians, Career and Childhood

Violet FieldHome › ItalianGaetano DonizettiNovember 29, 1797278 views

0 based on 0 rates
Gaetano Donizetti Biography Stories 

Gaetano Donizetti's Personal Details

Gaetano Donizetti was an Italian composer known for his operas

InformationDetail
BirthdayNovember 29, 1797
Died onApril 8, 1848
NationalityItalian
FamousMusicians, Composers
SpousesVirginia Vasseli
SiblingsGiuseppe Donizetti
Universities
  • Liceo Filarmonico
  • Bologna
Birth PlaceBergamo
GenderMale
Sun SignSagittarius
Born inBergamo
Famous asComposer
Died at Age50

// Famous Musicians

Ted Nugent

Ted Nugent

Ted Nugent is a hard rock musician known for his hits ‘Stranglehold’ and ‘Cat Scratch Fever’. This biography of Ted Nugent provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Muddy Waters

Muddy Waters

Muddy Waters was a blues musician referred to as the 'father of modern Chicago blues.' Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.

Travis Bacon

Travis Bacon

Travis Bacon is an American musician and actor, better known as the son of veteran actors Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick. Find more about his family, birthday, etc.

Gaetano Donizetti's photo

Who is Gaetano Donizetti?

Gaetano Donizetti was among the three great leaders of the opera style known as ‘bel canto’, the other two being Rossini and Bellini. Donizetti’s skills in music were discovered at a very early stage. He was just nine years old when he was enrolled in the Lezioni Caritatevoli School on a full scholarship. As a composer, Donizetti mastered both comic and serious operas and composed 71 operas in his lifetime. His success came with his famous opera, ‘Zoraida di Granata’, which was noticed by Domenico Barbaia, a famous theatre manager, and Donizetti signed a contract to compose in Naples. He achieved minor popularity in the 1820’s, but with his ‘Anna Bolena’, he gained instant popularity in 1830. This opera was premiered in Milan and he became a famous opera personality throughout Europe. Shortly after, he composed ‘Lucia di Lammermoor’, which was deemed as his most renowned opera. His works were greatly influenced by Rossini and Bellini and he, like them, staged some of his compositions in Paris, ‘Marin Faliero’ being one of them. Unfortunately, Paris did not bring him any fame and he turned to Naples. In 1838, he relocated to Paris. He was appointed the music director for the Italian opera at Kärntnertortheater and lived in Paris for the rest of his life. Donizetti is remembered for his operas and his style of composition influenced many contemporary and later writers

// Famous Composers

Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig Van Beethoven was one of the greatest composers the world has ever had. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, and achievements.

Emina Jahović

Emina Jahović

Emina Jahović Sandal is a Serbian model, actress and singer-songwriter. Know more about her childhood, life, career, achievements and timeline in this biography.

John Denver

John Denver

John Denver, a famous American singer-songwriter and activist, is remembered for songs like Take Me Home, Country Roads and Annie's Song. To know more about his childhood, career, profile and timeline read on

Biography detail

ChildhoodDomenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti was born to a poor family in 1797 in Bergamo, situated in northern Italy. At a young age of 9, he became a music apprentice under Johann Simon Mayr. With the help of Mayr, Donizetti went on to study music in the famous Lezioni Caritatevoli School in Bolonga, in 1815. Mayr supported Donizetti until he received a solid musical education. He helped the young boy harp his skills in music, for he was the one who recognized the boy’s musical endowments. Towards his adulthood, he started taking lessons from Padre Mattei, a prominent counterpoint virtuoso. Donizetti’s journey was from rags to international popularity and from an unmusical upbringing to a lifetime dedicated to music.

Career And International Prominence Donizetti began composing quite early but his works from 1816 to 1817 were never staged. However, eventually he gained pace after ‘Enrico di Borgogna’ was performed. This was his first opera to be staged. Donizetti confidently exercised his prowess in almost all types of operas such as comedies, serious operas, romantic melodramas and neo classical themes. His career reached its apex with his ‘Zoraide di Grenata’. This work brought him a contract from Domenico Barbaia to write in Naples. Barbaia was fascinated by the Donizetti’s ‘Zoraide di Grenata’ and knew that he can do wonders if given a chance, and that happened. The next eight years marked the busy theatre life of Donizetti. He wrote for Rome, Milan and Naples at the same time. He was met with a mixed response, though he was quite known in these three places by then. Then came his first masterpiece, ‘Anna Bolena’ in 1830. The opera was performed in Milan and Donizetti shot to fame internationally. Everyone in Europe recognized Donizetti. ‘L'elisir d'amore’ (1832) came soon after, and was also widely accepted. Donizetti then came up with ‘Lucia di Lammermoor’, which was based on Sir Walter Scott’s ‘The Bride of Lammermoor’ which was again a chef-d'oeuvre. Donizetti was well conversant with the greatest singers of his day, and he created many characters in his operas for their explicit vocal talents. In 1833, after the success of ‘Lucrezia Borgia’, Donizetti travelled to Paris and tried his luck there. His opera ‘Marin Faliero’ was a failure. His works were compared with Bellini which is why his triumph over the Paris audience was difficult. So, he decided to produce ‘Lucia di Lammermoor’ in Naples. He composed another comic opera ‘L’elisir d’amore’ which was another success. These two operas are performed till today. In addition to his operas, Donizetti produced a large number of compositions in other genera. His cantatas, religious works, symphonies, string quartets and quintets, and numerous piano solos, voice and piano pieces and pieces for piano and other instruments were also well-known among his followers.

Personal Life And Death Donizetti’s personal life was quite unfortunate. He met Virginia Vasselli in Rome in the 1820’s and they got married in 1828. Virginia gave birth to three children but sadly, none of them survived. His parents also died in the 1830’s which was another blow. The tragedy did not end here. A year after the death of his parents, his wife succumbed to a cholera epidemic. As for Donizetti, he had suffered from malaises, headaches, nausea and lightning conditions for decades, but was never treated. Finally, he was diagnosed with cerebro-spinal syphilis. Donizetti was struck by paralysis in 1845 followed by a quick dementia. The same year, he was moved to his Paris apartment after his friend Baron Lannoy got to know about his condition. His friends in Bergamo finally brought him to his home town, where he stayed at Baroness Scotti's palace till he died. However, He remained detached from everyone and everything until his death in 1848.

LegacyDonizetti was equipped with a great ability to compose in a short period of time. His operas were inspired by the happenings of his own life and the life around him. The miseries and fineries of his life found way in his operas, in the form of melodies. Though he was greatly influenced by Bellini and Rossini, he carved a niche for himself. He is remembered for his expressive vocabulary and used to create various roles in his operas, which allowed the singers of his time to display their special vocal talents. His style of composition was inspirational to many Italian composers, especially Verdi. His ‘Lucia di Lammermoor’ and ‘L’elisir d’amore’ are two comic operas performed worldwide, till today.

Types Of WorksThough Donizetti is recollected for his operas, he had many other compositions.

  • Over 70 operas both in Italian and French
  • 20 string quartets
  • Cantatas
  • 3 string quintets
  • Sacred works and some songs

Notable Operas 1818- Enrico di Borgogna1830- Anna Bolena1832 - L'elisir d'amore1833 - Lucrezia Borgia1835 - Lucia di Lammermoo1840 - Maria Padilla, La fille du regiment, La favorite1843 - Don Pasquale, Dom Sébastien roi de Portugal

// Famous Italian peoples

Pietro Boselli

Pietro Boselli

Pietro Boselli is an Italian model, engineer, teacher, and fitness athlete who became famous as the ‘world’s sexiest math teacher’. Check out this biography to know about his birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.

Guccio Gucci

Guccio Gucci

Guccio Gucci was a famous fashion designer from Florence, Italy, and the founder of the world-renowned fashion brand ‘Gucci.’ Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family, personal life, career, etc.

John Cabot

John Cabot

John Cabot was an Italian navigator and explorer who was the first European to discover the coast of North America. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, life, and achievements.

// Famous Sagittarius Celebrities peoples

Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O’Connell is an American singer and songwriter. Check out this biography to know about her childhood, family, personal life, birthday, etc.

Jacelyn Reeves

Jacelyn Reeves

Jacelyn Reeves is a former flight attendant who once had a fling with Clint Eastwood. Check out this biography to know about her birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her.

Edmund Kemper

Edmund Kemper

Edmund Kemper is a convicted serial killer from America who murdered ten people. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, life, crimes and other facts about him.

Pietro Boselli

Pietro Boselli

Pietro Boselli is an Italian model, engineer, teacher, and fitness athlete who became famous as the ‘world’s sexiest math teacher’. Check out this biography to know about his birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.

Niqoles Heard

Niqoles Heard

Lil Niqo is an American rapper and musical artist. Let’s take a look at his family and personal life including age, date of birth, net worth, girlfriends, and fun facts.

Ted Nugent

Ted Nugent

Ted Nugent is a hard rock musician known for his hits ‘Stranglehold’ and ‘Cat Scratch Fever’. This biography of Ted Nugent provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Gaetano Donizetti's FAQ

  • What is Gaetano Donizetti birthday?

    Gaetano Donizetti was born at 1797-11-29

  • When was Gaetano Donizetti died?

    Gaetano Donizetti was died at 1848-04-08

  • Where was Gaetano Donizetti died?

    Gaetano Donizetti was died in Bergamo

  • Which age was Gaetano Donizetti died?

    Gaetano Donizetti was died at age 50

  • Where is Gaetano Donizetti's birth place?

    Gaetano Donizetti was born in Bergamo

  • What is Gaetano Donizetti nationalities?

    Gaetano Donizetti's nationalities is Italian

  • Who is Gaetano Donizetti spouses?

    Gaetano Donizetti's spouses is Virginia Vasseli

  • Who is Gaetano Donizetti siblings?

    Gaetano Donizetti's siblings is Giuseppe Donizetti

  • What was Gaetano Donizetti universities?

    Gaetano Donizetti studied at Liceo Filarmonico, Bologna

  • What is Gaetano Donizetti's sun sign?

    Gaetano Donizetti is Sagittarius

  • How famous is Gaetano Donizetti?

    Gaetano Donizetti is famouse as Composer