In 1837, the death Gaetano Donizetti's beloved wife Virginia sent him into a profound crisis, prompting him to leave Italy for Paris. This tragic turning point also marked a new direction in his music, which became darker, more harmonically complex, and emotionally charged.

In this episode, host Flora Willson is joined by opera scholar Roger Parker to investigate this pivotal period.

We contrast the extreme, gothic violence of his opera Maria de Rudenz with the subtle, melancholic beauty of his salon song, "Amore e morte" - Love and Death.

Along the way, we explore the 19th century's cultural "cult of death" and reveal the story behind the star tenor nicknamed "the tenor of the beautiful death."

It’s a fascinating look at how personal grief and cultural trends can shape great art.

Opera Rara is dedicated to uncovering the stories behind the music. If you enjoy these deep dives, please consider making a donation to help us continue our work. Learn more at opera-rara.com/support.

"The tenor... was known as il tenore della bella morte, the tenor of the beautiful death. So he specialised in death scenes... He did a good stagger, you know, and all those kind of things." - Prof. Roger Parker

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction: Donizetti's Grief and the Move to Paris

02:54 A Darker Sound: The Musical Impact of Tragedy

07:22 Melodrama & The Gothic: Inside Maria de Rudenz

09:31 From the Stage to the Salon: Donizetti's Songs

12:01 "Amore e morte": A Song of Love and Death

14:48 Romanticism 101: Unpacking "Love and Death"

17:41 The 19th-Century's Beautiful Death

21:19 A Glimmer of Light?: The Song's Surprising Finale

26:01 Ask Opera Rara: Berlioz, Song Titles & Cello Counterpoints

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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