Gaetano Donizetti

Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848) was an Italian composer born in Bergamo. With Rossini and Bellini he was one of the central figures of bel canto opera in the first half of the nineteenth century, and he is remembered above all for stage works such as Lucia di Lammermoor and L'elisir d'amore. He also wrote sacred music, piano pieces and instrumental works, including a concertino for clarinet. Donizetti studied in Bergamo with Simon Mayr and then in Bologna with Padre Stanislao Mattei. His first notable success came with Zoraida di Granata in Rome in 1822.