Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848) - Lithographie von Josef Kriehuber, gedruckt bei Johann Höfelich, erschienen im Verlag Mechetti, Wien, 1842

The Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti, born in Bergamo, first studied the piano, singing and violin in his hometown with Simon Mayr (1763-1845). Then he studied the rules of counterpoint with Stanislao Mattei (1750-1825) in Bologna. After the success of his Opera "Enrico di Borgogna" in 1818, Donizetti fully dedicated himself to the composition of operas. All in all, he created 74 works, which partly have been very successful.

Between 1834 and 1839 Donizetti worked as composition professor at the Naples Music Conservatory, and in Naples his most famous opera, "Lucia di Lammermoor", had its premiere in 1835. After having had problems with censorship, the composer moved to Paris in 1839, where - among others - his operas "Die Regimentstochter" ("The daughter of the Regiment") in 1840 and "Don Pasquale" in 1843 had their premiere. From 1842 on, he lived in Vienna and worked as imperial court composer and bandmaster.

With his compositions, Donizetti continued the tradition of the Italian opera in the way of Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868) and with his dramatic and expressive scenes, he was a precursor of the operas of Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901).(S.B.)