Born: Nov. 29, 1797, he was the youngest of three children.
Birthplace: Bergamo, Cisalpine Republic
Died: On April 8, 1848 in Bergamo, Lombardy (Austrian Empire) due to syphilis complications.
Also Known As: His full name was Domenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti, he married Virginia Vasseli and they bore three children although all three died soon after birth. He was also appointed as official composer to the Emperor Ferdinand 1.
Type of Compositions: He composed over 70 operas in Italian and French. He also wrote at least 20 string quartets, cantatas, three string quintets, two oratorios and several songs and religious works.
Influence: He studied under Giovanni Simone Mayr, a priest who was alos am opera composer. Mayr helped Donizetti get into a music school, the Liceo Filarmonico, in Bologna. Donizetti's father was also supportive of him.
Notable Works: Among his famous works are: Enrico di Borgogna (1818), Anna Bolena (1830), L'elisir d'amore (1832), Lucrezia Borgia (1833), Lucia di Lammermoor (1835), La fille du régiment (1840), La favorite (1840), Don Pasquale (1843) and Dom Sébastien (1843).
Interesting Fact: Sadly the last years of Donizetti's life was beset with illness. He was confined in a private asylum near Paris before being released to his nephew Andrea and taken home to Bergamo where he died.
Music Sheet: Downloadable Gaetano Donizetti music sheets available here.
