草莓视频免费版app

Domenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti, the youngest of three sons in a working class family, was born in Italy on November 29, 1797. He was not a child prodigy, but he received a solid foundation of musical training from his uncle and later from Johann Mayr, a priest. He was also a choirboy; and, in 1806, he received a full scholarship to attend Lezioni Caritatevoli School, which was founded by Mayr.

Following his educational training, he went to Bologna in 1815 to study with Padre Mattei, a former student of Padre Martini and with a teacher of Gioachino Rossini. Mayr provided Donizetti with financial support as well as letters of introduction to help jumpstart his career.

Donizetti’s first opera premiered in Naples in 1822. He worked in Naples in the 1820s and 1830s. In 1830, he achieved international fame from performances of Anna Bolena. Despite his fame, he was passed over for the job of director of the Naples Conservatory in 1840 and instead moved to Paris.

In 1842, he was appointed to the Austrian court in Vienna but kept his ties to Paris. His talent and popularity quickly spread throughout Italy, making him one of the most important composers of bel canto opera in both Italian and French.

He was a prolific composer, best known as one of the first composers of romantic music, composing 71 operas, 16 symphonies, 19 string quartets, 193 songs, 45 duets, three oratorios, 28 cantatas, along with numerous instrumental concertos, sonatas, and other forms of music.

He married Virginia Vasselli in 1828. Together, they lost three children in infancy. After Virginia died from cholera around 1843, Donizetti developed an illness, which was later diagnosed as symptoms of syphilis that deteriorated his physical and mental health.

In 1845, he returned to Paris and eventually to his hometown of Bergamo after several years of being institutionalized for insanity due to his illness. He died in 1848 and was buried in the Cemetery of Valtesse. His body was moved in the late 19th century to Bergamo’s Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.

Kennedy Center Education Digital Learning

Eric Friedman 
Director, Digital Learning

Kenny Neal 
Manager, Digital Education Resources

Tiffany A. Bryant 
Manager, Operations and Audience Engagement

JoDee Scissors 
Content Specialist, Digital Learning

Connect with us!

Generous support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by the U.S. Department of Education. The content of these programs may have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education but does not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the federal government.

Gifts and grants to educational programs at the Kennedy Center are provided by A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation; Annenberg Foundation; the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; Bank of America; Bender Foundation, Inc.; Capital One; Carter and Melissa Cafritz Trust; Carnegie Corporation of New York; DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities; Estée Lauder; Exelon; Flocabulary; Harman Family Foundation; The Hearst Foundations; the Herb Alpert Foundation; the Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation; William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust; the Kimsey Endowment; The King-White Family Foundation and Dr. J. Douglas White; Laird Norton Family Foundation; Little Kids Rock; Lois and Richard England Family Foundation; Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather; Dr. Gerald and Paula McNichols Foundation; The Morningstar Foundation;

The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Music Theatre International; Myra and Leura Younker Endowment Fund; the National Endowment for the Arts; Newman’s Own Foundation; Nordstrom; Park Foundation, Inc.; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; The Irene Pollin Audience Development and Community Engagement Initiatives; Prince Charitable Trusts; Soundtrap; The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust; Rosemary Kennedy Education Fund; The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates; UnitedHealth Group; The Victory Foundation; The Volgenau Foundation; Volkswagen Group of America; Dennis & Phyllis Washington; and Wells Fargo. Additional support is provided by the National Committee for the Performing Arts.

Social perspectives and language used to describe diverse cultures, identities, experiences, and historical context or significance may have changed since this resource was produced. Kennedy Center Education is committed to reviewing and updating our content to address these changes. If you have specific feedback, recommendations, or concerns, please contact us at [email protected].