Domenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti

Domenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti

Painting: Giuseppe Rillosi   1848

Source: Wikipedia

Born in Bergamo in northern Italy on 29 November 1797, Domenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti was one of the triple whammy that dominated Italian opera during the first half of the 19th century, consisting of Gioachino Rossini, Vincenzo Bellini and himself. As they, Donizetti composed operas exemplary of the bel canto (beautiful singing) style. Including revisions, Donizetti wrote 87 operas, leaving only three incomplete. He also wrote 193 songs, 26 cantatas and a firm number of instrumental, orchestral and piano works. We glance largely at only operas herein, all of which receive an "A" number from the 1991 directory of John Stewart Allitt in 'Donizetti in the light of romanticism and the teaching of Johann Simon Mayr'.

Donizetti attended the school of composer, Simon Mayr, on scholarship perhaps at age nine. He also studied counterpoint and fugue at the Liceo Filarmonico in Bologna. Donizetti's first opera was a one-act comedy in 1816 called 'Il Pigmalione'. Probably never performed during Donizetti's life, it eventually premiered more than a century later on 13 October 1960 at the Teatro Donizetti in Bergamo. A couple more operas were left incomplete in 1817: 'Olimpiade' and 'L'Ira di Achille'.

Donizetti premiered his first opera, 'Enrico di Borgogna', in Venice on 14 November 1818, the initial of several with a libretto by Bartolomeo Merelli. 'Enrico di Borgogna' is the tale of contest for the hand of Elisa between two brothers: Enrico, the escaped son of a murdered king, and Guido, having taken his father's place as king. That work arrived to no great fanfare, though it brought Donizetti a commission to stage his one-act 'Una Follia' the next month with libretto by Merelli, again to lukewarm result (performed once on 17 December 1818 before the work was lost). Donizetti then composed three opera buffas to not overmuch applause before heading to Rome to stage a more successful 'Zoraida di Granata' at the Teatro Argentina on 28 January 1822, that with another libretto by Merelli. Set in Spain in 1480, this work is another romantic contest, now for the hand of Zoraida, daughter of a murdered Moorish king, by Almuzir the murderer, and General Abenamet whom Almuzir has arranged to be sentenced to death. All samples of Donizetti featured herein will either point to Wikipedia or be linked to discussions further below under Compositions: Individual: Chronological.

'Enrico di Borgogna'    A 1   Opera eroic (heroic) by Gaetano Donizetti

Premiere at the Teatro San Luca in Venice 14 November 1818

Libretto by Bartolomeo Merelli

C & O of the Vadstena Academy / Olof Boman

Vadstena Castle / Sweden / Aug 2012

Niklas Smith   Wikipedia   Wikiwand

'Zoraida di Granata'    A 5   Opera eroic (heroic) by Gaetano Donizetti

Premiere at the Teatro Argentina in Rome 28 Jan 1822

Libretto by Bartolomeo Merelli

Direction by Bruno Ravella / Wexford Festival Opera / Diego Ceretta

Ireland / 2023

Donizetti Opera   Andrew Larkin   Alan Neilson   Claire Seymour   Wikipedia

It was in Naples on 12 May 1822 that Donizetti premiered his first truly successful opera, 'La Zingara' ('The Gypsy Girl') with libretto by Andrea Leone Tottola. Set in Spain during the middle ages, Agilla is a gypsy who resolves troubles surrounding an imprisoned Don Sebastiano. In doing so, she saves the life of the Duke of Alziras from the story's villain, Don Ranuccio, whose daughter, Ines, prefers one Fernando to that Antonio whom her father wishes her to marry. Agilla then frees Sebastiano who turns out to be her father.

'La Zingara'    A 6   Opera semiseria by Gaetano Donizetti

Premiere at the Teatro Nuovo in Naples 12 May 1822

Libretto by Andrea Leone Tottola

Direction by Arnold Bosman

Bratislava Chamber Choir / Orchestra Internazionale d’Italia

Palazzo Ducale / Martina Franca / Italy / July 2001

Wikipedia

Donizetti's next opera, 'La Lettera Anonima' ('The Anonymous Letter') also made a big splash in Naples on 29 June 1822 at the Teatro del Fondo. Set in 17th century France, this is the story of Countess Rosina and Captain Filinto who are scheduled to be married when, uh-oh, an anonymous letter arrives on their wedding day telling that the Filinto is already betrothed to another. It was 'Chiara e Serafina' on 28 October of 1822 in Milan at La Scala, another romance set in Spain surrounding the reunion of two estranged sisters, Chiara who has been captured by pirates along with her father, Don Alvaro, and Serafina whom the story's black hat, Don Fernando, plots to marry as her guardian in the stead of her missing father, regardless of her love for one Don Ramiro.

'La Lettera Anonima'    A 7   Farce by Gaetano Donizetti

Premiere at the Teatro Nuovo in Naples 29 June 1822

Libretto by Giulio Genoino

Amici della Polifonia Coro / Alessandro Scarlatti Orquesta / Franco Caracciolo

Naples / 19 Dec 1972

Wikipedia

'Chiara e Serafina'    A 8   Opera semiseria by Gaetano Donizetti

Premiere at La Scala in Milan 26 Oct 1822

Libretto by Felice Romani

Coro dell’Accademia Teatro alla Scala / Orchestra Gli Originali / Sesto Quatrini

Paul Archer   Italian Opera (alt)   Wikipedia

Donizetti staged a couple more operas in Naples in 1823 before returning to Rome to premiere 'L'Ajo nell'Imbarazzo' ('The Tutor Embarrassed' or 'The Tutor in a Jam') on 4 February 1824 at the Teatro Valle. This is a story about an elderly tutor who becomes involved in the secret of a marriage between Enrico and Gilda who have a baby hidden from Enrico's father, Marquis Giulio, who had raised his son to avoid matters of flesh. The marriage and child are, however, discovered, upon which Guilio reconsiders, then entrusts his younger son, Pipetto, to Enrico's wisdom in matters mature.

'L'Ajo nell'Imbarazzo'    A 11   Opera by Gaetano Donizetti

Premiere at the Teatro Valle in Rome 4 Feb 1824

Libretto by Jacopo Ferretti

Film directed by Giovanni Fusco   1965

IMDb   IMSLP   Wikipedia

It was back to Naples for 'Emilia di Liverpool' on 28 July 1824 at the Teatro Nueva. Emilia lives a holy life at a hermitage near Liverpool until a couple of prior suitors show up with notions of marriage in mind, the one Don Remualdo whom she had rejected, the other Federico who had insincerely taken advantage of her. Also arriving is her father, Count Claudio of Liverpool, who had left years earlier in pursuit of Federico upon shaming his daughter.

'Confusa e l'Alma Mia' from Act 2 of 'Emilia di Liverpool'   A 12   Opera by Gaetano Donizetti

Premiere at the Teatro Nuovo in Naples 28 July 1824

Libretto by Giuseppe Checcherini

Liverpool Music Singers Group / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir John Pritchard

Soprano: Joan Sutherland

IMSLP   Wikipedia   This album (1957)

From January of 1826 in Palermo to August of 1828 Donizetti premiered 12 operas including 'Olivo e Pasquale' in Rome on 7 January of 1827 and 'Alina, Regina di Golconda' in Genoa on 12 May of 1828. Olivo and Pasquale are a couple of Lisbon merchants, respectively the father and uncle of Isabella who loves one Camillo whom Olivo dislikes because he isn't rich like Isabella's other suitor, La Bross, whom Olivo favors. 'Alina, Regina di Golconda' tells of the romance between Queen Alina and the ambassador, Volmar, who had loved Alina when she was poor prior to being kidnapped by pirates, setting the stage to become their queen. Volmar proves his love through multiple tests, ultimately through the defeat of Seide, a rebel who imprisons Alina for refusing him. In the meantime the parallel story is told of Fiorina, Alina's friend also captured by pirates, who likewise tests the love of one Belfiore, aide-de camp to Volmar.

'Olivo e Pasquale'   A 18   Opera buffo (comic) by Gaetano Donizetti

Premiere at the Teatro Valle in Rome 27 Jan 1827

Libretto by Jacopo Ferretti

C & O della Radiotelevisione della Svizzera Italiana / Bruno Rigacci   1980

IMSLP   Italian Opera   Wikipedia

Most of Donizetti's productions had been in Naples, and in autumn of 1828 he was offered the position of Director of the Royal Theatres of Naples, which he assumed in 1829 and retained until 1838. He also premiered three operas in Naples in 1829 from January to July, followed by a revision of 'Alina' at the Teatro Valle in Rome again on 10 October. He premiered three more operas in Naples before the great reception that his two-act 'Anna Bolena' received at the Teatro Carcano in Milan on 26 October 1830. 'Anna Bolena', concerning the second wife of English King Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, established Donizetti's claim to major fame throughout Europe. He then composed eighteen more operas in rapid succession for staging in Milan and Naples.

'Alina, Regina di Golconda'   A 23   Opera by Gaetano Donizetti

Premiere at the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa 12 May 1828

Revision at the Teatro Valle in Rome 1 Oct 1829

Libretto by Felice Romani

Artisti del Coro del Teatro Regio di Parma

Orchestra Giovanile dell'Emilia Romagna / Arturo Toscanini   1987

IMSLP   Wikipedia

'Anna Bolena'   A 30   Opera tragic by Gaetano Donizetti

Premiere at the Teatro Carcano in Milan 26 Dec 1830

Libretto by Felice Romani

Direction by Eric Genovese

Chorus & Orchestra of the Wiener Staatsoper / Evelino Pido   2011

See Compositions under References below

'Fausta' of 1831, revised in 1833, is the second wife of Emperor Constantine, she in love with Crispo, son of Constantine by the latter's first wife, Minervina. In this tragic tale, Crispo is falsely accused of attempting to assassinate Constantine, is imprisoned and executed, to which Fausta responds by swallowing poison which kills her as well. 'Ugo, Conte di Parigi' premiered in two acts in March of 1832, this another tragedy in which Count Umo is loved by Bianca, Princess of Aquitaine, who has already been promised to Louis V. Bianca confesses this love to her sister, Adelia, who is also in love with Umo whom Louis imprisons. Learning of the love between Adelia and Umo, Bianca poisons herself. The more popular comic melodrama, 'L'Elisir d'amore' premiered in May of 1832. This tale surrounds a phony elixir of love which gets credited as a powerful brew as one Nemorino and one Belcore compete for the hand of one Adina.

'Fausta'   A 34   Opera seria by Gaetano Donizetti

Premiere at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples 12 Jan 1832   Revised 1833

Libretto by Domenico Gilardoni

Chorus & Orchestra of the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma / Daniel Oren   1981

Fausta: Raina Kabaivanska

Donizetti Society   IMSLP   Phil's Opera World   Wikipedia

Overture to 'Ugo, Conte di Parigi'   A 35   Opera tragic by Gaetano Donizetti

Premiere at La Scala in Milan 13 March 1832

Libretto by Felice Romani

Philharmonia Orchestra / David Perry

This album (1999)   See Compositions under References below

'L'Elisir d'Amore'   A 36   Opera buffa (comic) by Gaetano Donizetti

Premiere at the Teatro della Canobbiana in Milan 12 May 1832

Libretto by Felice Romani

C & O der Wiener Staatsoper   2005

See Compositions under References below

In 1835 Donizetti traveled to Paris to there perform his fiftieth opera, 'Marino Faliero', on 12 March. Faliero is Doge of Venice who ends up beheaded for his participation in a conspiracy against the Council of Forty. Complicating this tale is Faliero's wife, Elena, whose lover is Fernando who dies in a duel against Steno, a member of the Council of Forty and rejected by Elena. It was back to Naples next for 'Lucia di Lammermoor' at the Teatro di San Carlo on 26 September 1835. Salvadore Cammarano, with whom Donizetti would collaborate numerously, wrote the libretto after Sir Walter Scott's 1819 novel, 'The Bride of Lammermoor'. This opera is the story of the thwarted love between Lucia and Edgardo of Ravenswood who are each eventually driven to suicide by Lucia's brother Enrico, who prefers that she marry one Lord Arturo because that match would save them from financial ruin.

'Di mia patria o bel soggiorno' from Act 1 of 'Marino Faliero'   A 45

Opera tragic by Gaetano Donizetti

Premiere at the Théâtre-Italien in Paris 12 March 1835

Libretto by Giovanni Emanuele Bidera

Opera Orchestra of New York at Carnegie Hall   2002

Tenor: Rockwell Blake

IMSLP   Wikipedia

'Lucia di Lammermoor'   A 46   Opera tragic by Gaetano Donizetti

Premiere at the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples 26 Sep 1835

Libretto by Salvatore Cammarano

Coro del Teatro alla Scala di Milano / Norberto Mola

RIAS Sinfonie-Orchester Berlin / Herbert von Karajan

Berlin 1955

See Compositions under References below

Donizetti authored a total of four Requiems, all lost except the one he composed for his friend and rival, Vincenzo Bellini, upon his passing on 23 September 1835. The work was left unfinished, nor performed and published until 1870.

'Messa da Requiem' for Vincenzo Bellini   A 688   Requiem mass by Gaetano Donizetti

Left unfinished late 1835   Premiere posthumous 28 April 1870   Pub 1870

Scored for SATB and baritone

Donizetti Opera Choir and Orchestra / Riccardo Frizza / Bergamo / 2020

IMSLP   Wikipedia

Donizetti premiered 'Roberto Devereux' at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples on 28 October 1837. Devereux is the Earl of Essex with whom Queen Elizabeth I is in love in London in the year 1601, which presents a trouble since Roberto himself is in love with Sara, Duchess of Nottingham, who loves him in return. Devereux has been accused of treason and Elizabeth learns that he loves an other. As he'll not reveal who it is, jealous Elizabeth signs his death warrant for execution by axe. Matters have become confused by other means involving a ring which Elizabeth has given to Roberto, and the enmity of the Duke of Nottingham. They arrive to greater clarity once Sara confesses that she is Roberto's love. Elizabeth then attempts to stop his execution, but is too late as the Duke gets his satisfaction.

'Roberto Devereux'   A 52   Opera tragic by Gaetano Donizetti

Premiers at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples 28 Oct 1837

Libretto by Salvadore Cammarano

New York City Opera / Julius Rudel   1970

Donizetti Opera   IMSLP   Metropolitan Opera   Wikipedia

Donizetti crossed the Channel for the first time in 1838 for a London premiere of a revision of 'Gabriella di Vergy' originally composed in 1826. Cammarano's collaboration with Donizetti on their 1838 opera, 'Poliuto', concerning the Christian martyr, Saint Polyeuctus, was banned by the King of Naples who felt the stage was no place for such sacred subject matter. It wouldn't see performance until 1848 several months after Donizetti's death. In the meantime other operas included Donizetti's 'Il Duca d'Alba' of 1839 which had been left incomplete, finished by his student, Matteo Salvi, for premiere years later in Rome in 1882 [IMSLP / Wikipedia]. Apparently mezzo-sopranist, Rosine Stoltz, hadn't liked the role as Helene that she had been intended to play, so Donizetti dropped the whole thing.

'Poliuto'   A 68   Opera tragic by Gaetano Donizetti

Premiere of 1838 cancelled by King Ferdinand I

Censored as subject matter too sacred for commercial production

Premiere posthumous at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples 30 Nov 1848

Libretto by Salvadore Cammarano

C & O of the Teatro alla Scala / Antonino Votto   1960

BBC   IMSLP   Wikipedia

'La Fille du Regiment' premiered to mixed reviews by Hector Berlioz in Paris at the Salle de la Bourse on 11 February 1840. Berlioz thought that the speed at which Donizetti pumped out operas one upon the next made for entertainment wanting substance. Set in the Swiss Tyrol during the Napoleonic Wars, 'The Daughter of the Regiment' is a comedy concerning the romance between Marie, an army regiment canteen girl (cantiniere or vivandiere), and Torio, who becomes leader of said regiment. The trouble is that Marie is discovered to be the lost daughter of the Marquise de Berkenfield (claimed at first as a niece due to birth out of wedlock). The Marquise installs Marie in her castle with intentions to marry her to the Duke of Crakentorp of considerably higher station than Torio. Briefly after 'La Fille du Regiment' Donizetti revised 'Poliuto' into 'Les Martyrs' as a grand opera to premiere on 10 April 1840 in Paris with Cammarano's libretto revised by Eugène Scribe. Also set in Armenia in 259 AD, 'Les Martyrs' concerns the lovers, Pauline and Polyeucte, eventually fed to lions in the Roman arena for being Christian.

'La Fille du Regiment'   A 56   Opera comique by Gaetano Donizetti

Premiere at the Salle de la Bourse in Paris 11 Feb 1840

Libretto by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges / Jean-François Bayard

Chorus & Orchestra Teatro alla Scala / Donato Renzetti   1996

See Compositions under References below

'Les Martyrs'   A 54   Opera grand by Gaetano Donizetti

Premiere at the Paris Opera 10 April 1840

Revision of 'Poliuto' w libretto by Eugene Scribe

Opera Rara Chorus / Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment / Sir Mark Elder

Donizetti Society   IMSLP   Opera Today   Wikipedia   This album (2014)

Following 'Les Martyrs' Donizetti premiered further operas in Paris, Rome and Milan until a visit to Vienna resulted in 'Linda di Chamounix' on 19 May of 1842 at the Kärntnertortheater. Set in the French Alps in 1760, this opera is yet another story about two lovers mismatched according social status. Linda is a beautiful farm girl in love with a "poor" artist named Carlo who is secretly the Viscount of Sirval whose mother is sister to the Marchese (Marquis) of Boisfleury who himself has designs on Linda. Donizetti was appointed Kapellmeister at the chapel of the royal court of Austrian Ferdinand I before a revision of 'Linda' was premiered in Paris on 17 November of 1842.

'Linda di Chamounix'   A 46   Opera semiserio by Gaetano Donizetti

Premiere at the Kärntnertortheater in Vienna 18 May 1842

Revision at the Théâtre-Italien in Paris 17 Nov 1842

Libretto by Gaetano Rossi

Direction by Daniel Schmid

Chor & Orchester der Oper Zürich / Adam Fischer / 4 Sep 1996

See Compositions under References below

'Don Pasquale' appeared in Paris on 3 January of 1843. Pasquale is an old man living in Rome who wishes to disinherit his nephew, Ernesto, by having children of his own since Ernesto refuses to marry according to Pasquale's plans, he loving one Norina instead. Pasquale's doctor, Malatesta, suggests that he marry his sister, Sofronia, supposedly living in a convent. This another opera which employs the mechanism of disguise or false identity, the "Sofronia" with whom Malatesta matches Pasquale is actually Ernesto's fiancée, Norina. Norina ("Sofronia") agrees to marry Pasquale because that will place her in position nearer to Ernesto. Once Pasquale bequeaths his wealth to "Sofronia" she makes such a terrible wife of hersef that Pasquale must release her, that is, agree with Ernesto's marriage to Norina who has been pretending to be Sofronia, still in a convent, the whole time. The moral of the story is that betrothal at an old age can problems present.

'Don Pasquale'   A 64   Opera buffa (comic) by Gaetano Donizetti

Premiere at the Théâtre-Italien in Paris 3 Jan 1843

Libretto by Giovanni Ruffini

Direction by David Grabarkewitz

Nickel City Opera / Michael Ching / Buffalo NY June 2013

See Compositions under References below

Come 'Maria di Rohan' back in Vienna on 5 June of 1843], said to have been composed in less than 24 hours. With another libretto by Salvatore Cammarano, this work is based on events in the life of Marie de Rohan (1600-69), French courier and political activist. In this story Countess Maria is married to Duke Enrico of Chevreuse but loves Count Riccardo of Chalais. Enrico and Riccardo eventually arrive to what is supposed to be a duel with pistols, but ends with Riccardo committing suicide.

'Maria di Rohan'   A 65   Opera tragic by Gaetano Donizetti

Premiere at the Kärntnertortheater in Vienna 6 June 1843

Libretto by Salvadore Cammarano

Slovak Philharmonic Chorus of Bratislava

Orchesta Internazionale d'Italia Opera / Massimo de Bernart

Contessa di Rohan: Mariana Nicolesco

IMSLP   Peter Russell   Wikipedia

'Dom Sébastien, Roi de Portugal' saw staging in Paris on 9 November 1843. Scribe wrote the libretto after the 1838 play by Paul Foucher. Donizetti put considerable labor into this historical grand opera of five acts. Dom Sebastian is the Christian King of Portugal who departs from his realm to conduct a crusade in Moorish Africa. He meanwhile leaves rule of Portugal to his uncle, Dom Antonio, who will eventually usurp the throne at the cost of Portugal's independence from Spain. In the meantime Sebastian is caught up into a romantic intrigue with Moorish princess Zayda who has converted to Christianity, and his Arabian foe, Chief Abayaldos who defeats Sebastian on the battlefield. A sequence of events leads to the imprisonment of both Sebastian and Zayda, the latter for treason. By the plotting of Dom Antonio, Sebastian ends up signing away Portugal to Spain in attempt to save his own life. Tragic, though romantically appropriate, are his last moments with Zayda when they both plunge into the sea while trying to escape.

'Dom Sébastien, Roi de Portugal'   A 66   Opera grand by Gaetano Donizetti

Premiere at the Théâtre de la Porte-Saint-Martin in Paris 9 Nov 1843

Libretto by Eugene Scribe

Opera Orchestra of New York / Eve Queler / Carnegie Hall 1984

Dom Sébastien: Richard Leech   Zayda: Klára Takács

IMSLP   Wikipedia

'Caterina Cornaro', which Donizetti had partially completed before 'Don Pasquale', was staged in Naples on 18 January of 1844. Another historical opera, this one is based on the life of Catherine Cornaro (1454-1515), the last monarch of the Kingdom of Cyprus. The year is 1472 and Cyprus is embattled against Venice. King Lusignano of Cyprus is mortally wounded in combat and passes his throne to Caterina.

'Caterina Cornaro'   A 63   Opera tragic by Gaetano Donizetti

Premiere at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples 12 Jan 1844

Libretto by Giacomo Sacchero

C & O of the New Jersey Opera / Alfredo Silipigni   1973

Caterina Cornaro: Leyla Gencer

Nick Fuller   IMSLP   Phil's Opera World   Wikipedia

Donizetti's last opera premiere was the revision of 'Dom Sébastien' into 'Dom Sebastian von Portugal' on 6 February of 1845 in Vienna with Scribe's French libretto translated to German by Leo Herz. Gaetano's health had begun to fail him around early 1843. Workaholic or no, both his mental and physical health so rapidly deteriorated as to find him institutionalized by 1846. His brother finally won his release to a Paris apartment, then a last trip to Bergamo. He spent the last several months of his life detached from existence about him, dying on 8 April of 1848 of syphilis.