Gaetano Donizetti

Influential composer Gaetano Donizetti lived and worked during the first half of the 19th century. The Italian composer is best remembered for his operas, the most renowned of which are Lucia diLammermoor (Lucia of Lammermoor) and L'elisir d'amore (The Elixir of Love), featuring the famous aria, "Una Furtiva Lagrima." Donizetti was a pioneer in the emergent style of bel canto singing, which challenged prior modes in Italian opera, a stylistic move that featured a more dexterous and airy style of delivery. Donizetti left behind a large body of work that included more that a dozen symphonies, 75 operas, hundreds of songs, and almost 20 string quartets. He is remembered today as rich, prolific and innovative composer of the era, pushing the operatic tradition forward for future artists and opera goers.