Lives in Song

Join us as we travel back to the early 19th century to explore the beginnings of Gaetano Donizetti's career.

Forget the grand, dramatic operas for a moment.

In this episode of Lives in Song, we focus on his lesser-known talent for songwriting and how a young composer found his voice in a world dominated by one man - Gioachino Rossini.

With host Flora Willson and esteemed opera expert Roger Parker, we listen to one of Donizetti's early compositions, "D'un genio che m'accende," written when he was just 24.

It reveals a composer navigating the towering influence of Rossini, whose virtuosic and emotionally dazzling bel canto style was the global phenomenon of the day.

Through musical examples from both composers, we uncover the differences in the musical style of Donizetti vs Rossini, and how Donizetti used the more intimate form of song to experiment.

And we answer your questions, from how forgotten operas are chosen for revival, to the strange mystery of how so many of Donizetti’s songs ended up in an Austrian monastery.

This exploration of a young genius is a core part of Opera Rara's mission to unearth and share forgotten works - a mission powered by our supporters.

• The World of a Young Composer: A look at the musical landscape of the 1820s and the inescapable influence of Rossini.
• A Song of His Own: An analysis of Donizetti's early song "D'un genio che m'accende" and what it reveals about his developing style.
• Opera vs. Song: Comparing the virtuosic demands of opera with the intimate, experimental nature of song writing.
• Ask Opera Rara: Answering questions about reviving obscure operas, the strange journey of Donizetti's manuscripts, and his lasting importance in music history.

Dive into the early years of a master composer and hear the first sparks of a genius who would go on to change the face of opera forever.

00:00 - Introduction: Exploring Young Donizetti

02:22 - Musical Interlude 1: "D'un genio che m'accende" (Opening)

04:02 - The Shadow of a Giant: The Dominance of Rossini

06:28 - Musical Interlude 2: Rossini's "Bel raggio lusinghier" from Semiramide

11:03 - Finding His Voice: Donizetti's Songs as an Escape from Rossini

13:58 - Musical Interlude 3: Donizetti in "Rossini Mode" - L'esule di Roma

18:48 - A Deeper Look: The Story Behind "D'un genio che m'accende"

22:58 - Musical Interlude 4: "D'un genio che m'accende" (Full Performance)

25:21 - Ask Opera Rara: Listener Q&A

33:04 - Conclusion

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Supporters

This season of Lives in Song has been made possible by the generous support of

Andrea Pessino, Opera Rara's 2024-25 season Donizetti Songs Supporter and the Opera Rara Donizetti Syndicate.

The Donizetti Song Project is supported by the Colwinston Charitable Trust and the Cockayne Grants for the Arts at the London Community Foundation. 

Opera Rara's work is only made possible by the support of our loyal family of donors and listeners.

For more information about supporting Opera Rara, please visit opera-rara.com/support.

Credits

Lives in Song is produced for Opera Rara by Creative Kin.

Output Editor: Jason Caffrey

Producer: Milly March

Executive Producer: Zachary Vanderburg

He wrote over 70 operas, but what do we really know about Gaetano Donizetti?

In this opening episode of 'Lives in Song' from Opera Rara, our host, opera historian Flora Willson is joined by esteemed opera scholar Roger Parker, as we delve into Donizetti's life and works, focusing on celebrated opera composer's lesser-known contributions to song.

Together we dive into one of his most personal and mysterious works, 'Il sogno' ('The Dream'), and explore how the tragic death of Donizetti's wife, Virginia, may have inspired this intimate and deeply poignant piece of music.

Through excerpts of contrasting performances by Lawrence Brownlee, Nelly Miricioiu and Renée Fleming, we highlight the emotional range and depth of Donizetti's work, both for the opera house and the salon.

And we discuss how the composer's songs offer a different, more intimate glimpse into his artistry.

This inspiring exploration is part of our mission at Opera Rara to unearth and share these forgotten masterpieces - a mission only made possible by our dedicated supporters.

"I roused myself trembling from sleep. She still remained before me, and in the uncertain beams of the sun, I believed that I saw her again."

Chapters:

00:00 - Donizetti: More Than Just an Opera Composer

04:15 - From Grand Opera to Intimate Songs

09:22 - 1837: A Year of Tragedy and Creative Turmoil

15:48 - Decoding 'Il sogno': A Song of Personal Grief?

23:01 - The 'Lucia di Lammermoor' Connection

27:14 - Rediscovering Donizetti's 200 Songs

Get Involved

► REVIEW & SUBSCRIBE Follow or subscribe to make sure you never miss an episode. And please leave a review to help other opera-lovers discover our work.

► DISCOVER Opera Rara's work to unearth, restore, and record lost and forgotten operas by some of music's greatest composers

► SUPPORT a unique operatic vision and help us create more content like this:

► EXPLORE the full Opera Rara catalogue

► FOLLOW OPERA RARA:

• YouTube
• Instagram
• X / Twitter
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• BlueSky

Supporters

This season of Lives in Song has been made possible by the generous support of

Andrea Pessino, Opera Rara's 2024-25 season Donizetti Songs Supporter and the Opera Rara Donizetti Syndicate.

The Donizetti Song Project is supported by the Colwinston Charitable Trust and the Cockayne Grants for the Arts at the London Community Foundation. 

Opera Rara's work is only made possible by the support of our loyal family of donors and listeners.

For more information about supporting Opera Rara, please visit opera-rara.com/support.

Credits

Lives in Song is produced for Opera Rara by Creative Kin.

Output Editor: Jason Caffrey

Producer: Milly March

Executive Producer: Zachary Vanderburg