Small picture of Donizetti

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction

Until about 50 years ago, Donizetti’s reputation and place in the international opera repertoire rested largely on three operas: Lucia di Lammermoor, Don Pasquale and L’elisir d’amore.  Since then many of his remaining nearly 70 operas have been produced, the exact number being difficult to give because of the reworking of several of them into other operas.  Thus, on being banned in Naples, Maria Stuarda had to be rapidly reworked as Buondelmonte, while others received quite substantial revision, such as Lucia di Lammermoor becoming Lucie de Lammermoor for the French stage.

 

The following lists the librettist, date of composition, opera type and first performance, as well as mentioning some typical modern recordings or those of historical or other significance.   Some, particularly the historical ones, may have been released on different labels from that cited.  The Recordings page lists recent releases of recordings of Donizetti and his contemporaries’ works and Brian Capon's site www.operadis.info is a goldmine of information on recordings of Donizetti's and others' operas. Links to some of the recording companies mentioned below can be found here.

Donizetti also wrote some religious works and orchestral, chamber and piano music.  Some deaatils of these can be found on the Recordings page  and the Scores page .

Further web sites for Donizetti and for other composers of this era can be found here and for sites of more general operatic interest here.   http://www.magiadellopera.com/donizetti.html includes a synopsis of all Donizetti's operas (in Italian)

 

Donizetti's Operas

Operas: 1816-1825   Il Pigmalione to Alahor in Granata

Operas: 1826-1829   Elvida to Il diluvio universale

Operas: 1830-1833   Imelda de'Lambertazzi to Lucrezia Borgia

Operas: 1834-1838   Rosmonda d'Inghilterra  to Poliuto/Les Martyrs

Operas: 1839-1843   Le Duc d'Albe/Il Duca d'Alba to Dom Sébastien

          

        1816 -1825

Il Pigmalione  (1816), one act opera

Librettist:   Adapted from A. S. Sografi

First performed:  Believed not to have been performed until October 13, 1960 at Teatro Donizetti, Bergamo.

Recordings:  The Golden Age of Opera EJS – 296 D (LP) is a live recording of that production.  Bongiovanni GB 2109/0-2  is a more modern performance and includes fragments from 2 early, probably uncompleted, Donizetti operas,  L’Olimpiade and La bella prigioniera as well as the much later one act opera buffa Rita. 

 

L'ira d'Achille  (1817), fragments

Librettist:   Scenes from a libretto, possibly by Romani, originally done for an opera by Nicolini.

First performed: Possibly at Bologna where he was studying.  First modern performance in Bergamo, 1998.

Recordings: Live 1998 performance from Bergamo available on Celestial Audio CA483

 

Enrico di Borgogna  (1818), opera semiseria

Librettist:   Bartolomeo Merelli 

First performed: November 14, 1818 at Teatro San Luca, Venice.

Recordings:  Enrico’s Act 1 entrance aria sung by Della Jones is included in A Hundred Years of Italian Opera, 1810-1820, Opera Rara  ORCH103.  The same recording is also included on Della Jones sings Donizetti, Opera Rara, ORR 203. 

 

Una follia  (1818), farsa, score and libretto have been lost.

Librettist:   Bartolomeo Merelli 

First performed: December 15, 1818 at Teatro San Luca,Venice.

Recordings:  None

 

Le nozze in villa  (1819), opera buffa

Librettist:   Bartolomeo Merelli  

First performed:  During Carnival 1820-21 at Teatro Vecchio, Mantua.

Recordings:  None known  

 

Il falegname di Livonia (also known as Pietro, il grande, tsar delle Russie) (1819), opera buffa

Librettist:   Gherardo Bevilacqua-Aldobrandini 

First performed: December 26, 1819 at the Teatro San Samuele, Venice.

Recordings: Live Martina Franca 2004 performance on Dynamic CDS 473. The Act 2 sextet is included in A Hundred Years of Italian Opera, 1810-1820, Opera Rara ORCH103.  

 

Zoraida di Granata  (1822), opera seria

Librettist:   Bartolomeo Merelli   

First performed:  January 28, 1822 at the Teatro Argentina, Rome.

Recordings:  Opera Rara, ORC 17. It also includes pieces written for the 1824 revision of the opera.  

 

La zingara  (1822), opera semiseria

Librettist:   Andrea Tottola 

First performed: May 12, 1822 at the Teatro Nuovo, Naples.

Recordings:  Dynamic  CDS 396/1-2.   Live performance from Festival della Valle  d’Itria, Martina Franca

 

La lettera anonima  (1822), farsa

Librettist:   Giulio Genoino 

First performed:  June 29, 1822 at the Teatro del Fondo, Naples.

Recordings:  On Stage 4702 and on One for you label,  1972 live recording from Naples with Panerai.

 

Chiara e Serafina (also known as I pirati) (1822), opera semiseria

Librettist:   Felice Romani 

First performed: October 26, 1822 at La Scala, Milan.

Recordings:  None known.

 

Alfredo il grande  (1823), opera seria

Librettist:   Andrea Tottola 

First performed:  July 2, 1823 at the Teatro San Carlo, Naples.

Recordings:  None known.   Della Jones sings an aria from it on Della Jones sings Donizetti,  Opera Rara, ORR 203 and Bruce Ford also on Romantic Heroes, Opera Rara ORR 201 and on The Opera Rara Collection, Volume 2, ORR 209.

 

Il fortunate inganno  (1823), opera buffa

Librettist:   Andrea Tottola 

First performed:  September 3, 1823 at the Teatro Nuovo, Naples.

Recordings:  Dynamic CDS 228/1-2. Live performance from Festival della Valle d’Itria, Martina Franca 

 

L’ajo nell’imbarazzo (1824), opera buffa  (also known as Don Gregorio)

Librettist:   Jacopo Ferretti 

First performed: February 4, 1824 at the Teatro Valle, Rome.

Recordings:  Melodram MEL 152 (LP).  Live performance (October 30, 1957) from Bergamo.

 

Emilia di Liverpool (later revised as L’eremitaggio di Liverpool) (1824), opera semiseria

Librettist:   not known, later revision by Giuseppe Checcherini 

First performed: July 28, 1824 at the Teatro Nuovo, Naples.

Recordings:  Opera Rara ORC 8.  Includes both the original and the revised version.  There is a rather curious recording on VOCE-30 (LP), of the revised version broadcast on September 8, 1957 for the 750 th anniversary of the granting of Liverpool’s charter.  It has a spoken commentary by Bernard Miles and its main claim to fame is a young Joan Sutherland as Emilia.  

 

Alahor in Granata  (1825), opera seria

Librettist:   Initials M.A 

First performed:  January 7, 1826 at the Teatro Carolina, Palermo.

Recordings:  1998 concert performance on Alma Viva DS 0125.

TOP

        1826-1829

 

Elvida  (1826), opera seria

Librettist:   Giovanni Schmidt 

First performed:  July 6, 1826 at the Teatro San Carlo, Naples.

Recordings:  Bongiovanni  GB 2370-2,  Opera Rara ORC 29. The latter includes the aria for Alfonso.

 

Gabriella di Vergy  (1826, revised 1838), opera seria

Librettist:   Andrea Tottola 

First performed:  Original version in November 29, 1869 at the Teatro San Carlo, Naples.  Revised version in August 1978 for Opera Rara recording, London

Recordings:  Opera Rara ORC 3.

 

Olivo e Pasquale  (1826), opera buffa

Librettist:   Jacopo Ferretti 

First performed:  January 7, 1827 at Teatro Valle, Rome.

Recordings:  Bongiovanni GB 2005/7.

 

Otto mesi in due ore (also known as Gli esiliati in Siberia)  (1827), opera romantica. There is also a revised French version Élisabeth, ou la fille de l'exilé, see here for an article on the interrelationships.

Librettist:   Domenico Gilardoni  

First performed:  May 13, 1827 at the Teatro Nuovo, Naples.

Recordings:  Actes Sud  OMA 34108.

 

Il borgomastro di Saardam  (1827), opera buffa

Librettist:   Domenico Gilardoni 

First performed:  May 13, 1827 at the Teatro Nuovo, Naples.

Recordings:  Myto 991202.  Recording of a performance done in Zaandam (Saardam) in 1973.

 

Le convenienze ed inconvenienze teatrali  (1827, revised in 1831), farsa.  Nowadays opera companies, particularly outside Italy, sometimes try to give it a snappier title, one of the most popular being Viva la Mamma.

Librettist:   Gaetano Donizetti 

First performed:  November 27, 1827 at the Teatro Nuovo, Naples. 

Recordings:  Now available in several recordings, e.g. Bongiovanni 2091/2-2 which also includes Betly. Bella Voce BLV 107.322 is a live recording from Bregenz, 1976 featuring two stalwarts of  Italian opera of that era, Giuseppe Taddei and Leo Nucci.  However, this is definitely an opera that needs to be seen rather than just heard.  

 

L’esule di Roma (also known as Il proscritto)  (1827), opera seria

Librettist:   Domenico Gilardoni 

First performed:  January 1, 1828 at the Teatro San Carlo, Naples.

Recordings:  Bongiovanni GB 2045/6-2

 

Alina, regina di Golconda  (1828), opera semiseria

Librettist:   Felice Romani 

First performed:  May 12, 1828 at the Teatro Carlo Fenice, Genoa. 

Recordings:  Nuova Era 6701. 

 

Gianni di Calais  (1828), opera semiseria

Librettist:   Domenico Gilardoni 

First performed:  August 2, 1828 at the Teatro del Fondo, Naples.

Recordings:  None known.  The sextet from it is included in Donizetti Scenes and Overtures, Opera Rara, ORR 207 and on The Opera Rara Collection, Volume 2, ORR 209.

  

Il giovedi grasso (also known as Il nuovo Pourceaugnac)  (1828), farsa

Librettist:   Domenico Gilardoni 

First performed:  End 1828 or early 1829 at the Teatro del Fondo, Naples

Recordings:  Foyer 1-CF 2036,  Live recording from 1970 Wexford Festival.  A more modern performance is Nuovo Era 1131.

  

Il paria  (1828), opera seria

Librettist:   Domenico Gilardoni 

First performed:  January 12, 1829 at the Teatro San Carlo, Naples

Recordings:   Bongiovanni GB 2300/1-2, live performance from Teatro Masini di Faenza, 2001.

 

Elisabetta al castello di Kenilworth  (1829), opera seria

Librettist:   Andrea Tottola 

First performed: July 6, 1829 at the Teatro San Carlo, Naples

Recordings:  Fonit Cetra RFCD 2005. 

 

I pazzi per progetto  (1829-30), farsa

Librettist:   Domenico Gilardoni

First performed: February 6, 1830 at the Teatro San Carlo, Naples

Recordings:  Bongiovanni GB 2070-2. 

 

Il diluvio universale  (1829-30, revised 1833-4), azione tragica-sacra

Librettist:   Domenico Gilardoni 

First performed: February 28, 1830 at the Teatro San Carlo, Naples

Recordings:  VOCE-100 (LP), Italian Opera Rarities LO 7736-37 (CD), the revised version in a 1985 live recording from the Teatro Comunale dell'Opera di Genova.

TOP

        1830-1833

 

Imelda de’ Lambertazzi  (1830), opera seria

Librettist:   Andrea Tottola 

First performed: September 5, 1830 at the Teatro San Carlo, Naples

Recordings:  Nuova Era 6778/79. 

 

Anna Bolena  (1830), opera seria

Librettist:   Felice Romani 

First performed:  December 26, Teatro Carcano, Milan

Recordings:  Several recordings, including Gencer, Gruberova, Scotto, Sills, Souliotis and Sutherland. The most important historically is that of the April 1957 revival at La Scala with Callas in the title role BJR109/3 (LP). This revival was a major influence on the rediscovery of Donizetti’s hitherto forgotten operas by demonstrating their dramatic potential rather than just demanding singing ability. 

 

Gianni di Parigi  (1831), opera buffa

Librettist:   Felice Romani 

First performed: September 10, 1839 at La Scala, Milan

Recordings:  Nuova Era 6752/53.  Taken from live recordings of a 1988 Bergamo production.

 

Francesca di Foix  (1831), opera semiseria

Librettist:   Domenico Gilardoni  

First performed:  May 30, 1831 at the Teatro San Carlo, Naples

Recordings:  Opera Rara, ORC 28.

 

La romanziera e l’uomo nero  (1831), farsa

Librettist:   Domenico Gilardoni  

First performed:  June 18, 1831 at Teatro del Fondo, Naples.

Recordings: Opera Rara, ORC 19. Bongiovanni GB 2287/88-2, live performance Teatro Sociale di Rovigo, 2000.

 

Fausta  (1831), opera seria

Librettist:   Domenico Gilardoni, Gaetano Donizetti 

First performed:  January 12, 1832 at Teatro San Carlo, Naples

Recordings:  HRE 381-3(LP), Gala GL 100.617, Italian Opera Rarities LO 7701-03 (CD) live performance from 1981 Rome Opera production.

 

Ugo, conte di Parigi  (1831-2), opera seria

Librettist:   Felice Romani  

First performed: March 13, 1832 at La Scala, Milan.

Recordings: Opera Rara ORC 1

 

L’elisir d’amore  (1832), opera buffa

Librettist:   Felice Romani  

First performed:  May 12, at the Teatro Canobbiana, Milan.

Recordings:  Many recordings.  One of historical interest is Eklipse Records EKR CD 8, a live recording from the Teatro San Carlo, Naples in January, 1953 with Beniamino Gigli as Nemorino and his daughter Rina as Adina. 

 

Sancia di Castiglia  (1832), opera seria

Librettist:   Pietro Salatino  

First performed:  November 4, 1832 at Teatro San Carlo, Naples. 

Recordings:  VOCE-103(LP).  A live recording with Caballé has also been advertised, for example, Celestial Audio CA436.

 

Il furioso all’isola di San Domingo  (1832), opera semiseri

Librettist:   Jacopo Ferretti  

First performed:  January 2, 1833 at Teatro Valle, Rome.

Recordings:  Bongiovanni GB 2056/8-2.

 

Parisina d’Este  (1833), opera seria

Librettist:   Felice Romani  

First performed:  March 17, 1833 at Teatro della Pergola, Florence.

Recordings: Bongiovanni  GB 2212/3-2.   There is also a 1974 live recording from New York with superb singing from Caballé on Myto 984193, previously released on LP as BJRS 134-3. 

 

Torquato Tasso  (1833), opera semiseria

Librettist:   Jacopo Ferretti  

First performed:  September 9, 1833 at Teatro Valle, Rome.

Recordings: Bongiovanni GB 2028/0-2.  There is also a live recording from the 1974 Camden Festival  on Raritas, OR 9(LP) and Celestial Audio CA247(CD). 

 

Lucrezia