Gaetano Donizetti is one of Italy''s most prolific opera composers. Over the course of his life, Donizetti wrote almost 75 operas in addition to symphonies, instrumentals and songs. While some Donizetti operas may not have won much critical acclaim, "Elixir of Love," "Don Pasquale" and many other works were warmly received by the public.
Domenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti was born in a cellar in Bergamo, Lombardy, on November 29, 1797. As the fourth of six children, Donizetti was born into a poor family with no music tradition. In spite of this, the Donizetti clan was to produce two musicians: Donizetti and his brother Gusieppe, who became the chief of music for the Ottoman armies.
Padre Johann Simon Mayr, the Maestro di Capella of Bergamo, was one of the first to recognize young Donizetti''s musical potential. In addition to his church duties, Mayr had written a number of successful operas. Mayr was to be one of the main influences in the young opera composer''s life.
To enhance Donizetti''s musical talents, Mayr sent him to Bologna to study under Padre Stanlislao Mattei in 1822. After studying music in Bologna, Donizetti relocated to Naples, where he stayed until 1838. During Donizetti''s time in Naples, he composed operas in almost every genre, ranging from comical farces to tragic melodramas.
Donizetti was one of the most prolific opera composers of his time. Along with composing approximately two or three operas every year, the composer still found time to write cantatas, masses and other musical pieces.
The first production of his opera "Anna Bolena"(1830) brought him recognition outside of Italy. He followed this success in 1832 with one of his most popular operas, "Elixir of Love."
In what may have been the final straw for Donizetti, a string of spectacular and high-profile set disasters and deaths led to the Teatro San Carlo refusing to stage any further Donizetti operas.
Donizetti left Naples for Paris in 1838, soon after which he relocated to Vienna, where he was awarded the title of Court Composer. Many of these later operas Donizetti wrote in Vienna are grand-operas, with elaborate sets and ballet pieces.
Donizetti wrote his last opera, the comedy "Don Pasquale," for a Parisian audience in 1843. In 1845, he was struck by paralysis and a rapid onset of dementia, symptoms that some believe were caused by syphilis. He died April 8, 1848, after a period of seclusion. Donizetti is buried next to his first music mentor, Padre Mayr.
Donizetti has one of the most varied opera canons of all opera composers. His works span the genres of comedy, farce, tragedy, grand-opera and historical pieces. Of all the Donizetti operas, however, the following two comic operas stand out:
In addition to "Don Pasqule" and "Elixir of Love," selected Donizetti operas include:
While many consider "Don Pasquale" or "Elixir of Love" to be Donzetti''s best works, Donizetti himself considered "Don Sbastian roi de Portugal"to be his masterpiece.
Some modern critics and scholars speculate that Donizetti suffered from bipolar disorder. They point to his prolific body of work as evidence that Donizetti experience regular manic episodes. (Mania is a condition in which people experience hyper-activity, irrationality, irritability and elation for distinct periods of time).
During his lifetime, Donzetti produced:
While the vast amount of his artistic creation is weak evidence of bipolar disorder, scholars do point to evidence that Donizetti also spent most of his life suffering from recurring fevers, headaches and nausea. Whether or not he was truly bipolar is, of course, ultimately a matter of speculation.
Gates, J. (n.d.). The Elixir of Love Synopsis. Retrieved January 19, 2008 from the Stephen F. Austin University Music Department Website:
synopsis.html.
Karadar Classical Music (n.d.). Gaetano Donizetti. Retrieved January 19, 2008 from the Karadar Classical Music Website:
Music with Ease (n.d.). Don Pasquale: An Opera by Gaetano Donizetti. Retrieved January 19, 2008 from the Music with Ease Website: www.musicwithease.com/donizetti-don-pasquale.html.
San Francisco Bach Choir (n.d.).Domenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti (1797 1848). Retrieved January 19, 2008 from the San Francisco Bach Choir Website: