Donizetti
GAETANO (dō-nē-dzet' të), an Italian composer; born in Bergamo in 1798. He studied music at Bologna under the distinguished Abbé Mattei. His first opera, "Enrico di Borgogna," was represented at Venice in 1818. In 1822 his "Zoraïde di Granata" gained him the honor of being crowned on the Capitol. In 1830 appeared his "Anna Bolena," which first, along with "Lucrezia Borgia" and "Lucia di Lammermoor," the latter his masterpiece, acquired for him a European fame. In 1835 Donizetti was appointed Professor of Counterpoint at the Royal College of Naples, but removed in 1840 to Paris, bringing with him three new operas, "Les Martyrs," "La Favorita," and "La Fille du Régiment," of which the last two are among his most popular product Of his other operas none except "Linda di Chamouni" (1842) and "Don Pasquale" (1843) achieved any special triumph. He died April 8, 1848. DONJON