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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.

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Eric Friedman 
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Kenny Neal 
Manager, Digital Education Resources

Tiffany A. Bryant 
Manager, Operations and Audience Engagement

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Content Specialist, Digital Learning

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Generous support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by the U.S. Department of Education.

Gifts and grants to educational programs at the Kennedy Center are provided by The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; Bank of America; Capital One; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Carnegie Corporation of New York; The Ednah Root Foundation; Harman Family Foundation; William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust; the Kimsey Endowment; The Kiplinger Foundation; Laird Norton Family Foundation; Lois and Richard England Family Foundation; Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather; The Markow Totevy Foundation; Dr. Gerald and Paula McNichols Foundation; The Morningstar Foundation; Myra and Leura Younker Endowment Fund; The Irene Pollin Audience Development and Community Engagement Initiatives;

Prince Charitable Trusts; Dr. Deborah Rose and Dr. Jan A. J. Stolwijk; Rosemary Kennedy Education Fund; The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates; The Victory Foundation; The Volgenau Foundation; Volkswagen Group of America; Jackie Washington; GRoW @ Annenberg and Gregory Annenberg Weingarten and Family; Wells Fargo; and generous contributors to the Abe Fortas Memorial Fund and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas. Additional support is provided by the National Committee for the Performing Arts..

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