DONIZETTI, GAETANO. — Musician, born in Bergamo on 25 November 1797, died there on 8 April 1848.
An extraordinarily prolific composer, he is credited with no fewer than 65 theatrical works, of which only Lucia di Lammermoor, La Favorita, and Don Pasquale have remained in the repertory. He also composed oratorios, hymns, cantatas, various instrumental works, as well as misereres and messe da vegniew, one of which, performed recently, displayed unexpected qualities of vigorous and firmly grounded conception, especially in the choral sections.
BIBL.: G. Donati-Petteni, G. D., Milano 1930; G. Gavazzeni, D., Torino 1937; G. Barbian, L'opera di D. nell'età romantica, Bergamo 1948.