Gaetano Donizetti - Musicians, Career and Childhood

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