The Yazoo Democrat., 1854-04-26
DONIZETTL. THE COMPOSER.

He has, says the writer, titles to your acquaint-
ance he is the author of Anna Boena and Eli
sire d'Amore, Lucrezia Borgia, Lucia di Lam
mermoor La File du Regiment, Les Martyrs,
La Favorte, Linda di Chamouni Don Pasquale,
Maria d RoEan, and fifty-five other operas less
known to you; and several collections of cham
Der music, and Of church music, and of instru-
mental music. There is another reason why
would occupy your attention for moment with
him: he died in April, 1913 and although he
was buried with pomp rare in Italy, the land
Of pageantry, the news Of his decease fell idly
on the public ear then dinned with the noise of
falling thrones. and of the wreck of constitu-
tions and of intestine wars.
Gaeiano Donizetti was born at Bergamo, in
1898; he early exhibited musical talents. and af
ter several years employed IN elementary studies
he continued his musical education under May
er and shortly afterwards received some lessons
from the celebrated Mattel, who had the honor
of being Rpssini's master. Donizeui, like Ros-
sini. first exhibi cl the product ms of his genius
al Venice, and although Eurco iii B rgogna "a
coldIy received by the public, it gave clear evi-
dence of the gifts of the author; he listened
with patient attention To the criticisms made
on his operd aud as Rossinl and Auber invaria-
bly, have done, he made them matter of prof
rather than of ill humor. He soon made ano
ther appeal to The Venetian public, aud Ii Faleg-
name rallied the applause of The musicians and
Of the public. and at once made his name popu-
lar In ali the theatres of Italy. Good fortune
came To the aid of great genius: Mayer (the ac-
thor of The NIeaed) was invited TO Naples to-
an opera; but previous engagements
prevented him from going; he sent Donizetu
with this letter to the Manager; = send von
Donizetti, yoa went lose by the change" He
had now attained the age of conscripiion, and
" hich he escaped by ,raida Iii Grenada, which,
al Rome in 1922, excited the public
enthusiasm to degree none bat Rpssni hal ev
er done; the day after its Performance, Donizet-
ii was paradeA about the town in a triumphal
car drawn By eight horses, TO receive the boqueis
and the cheers of his fellow citizens. His time
was now constantly occupied prayers for new
operas flowed in to him from all parts of Italy.
When in 1927, Rosslni ceased to write for Italy,
the celebrated impressaro Barbaja engaged him
TO compose given number of operas annually
at certain salary Rossini had been for years
in Barbaja's employment in this manner; Doni-
zettis engagement embraced 1927, %, 20 and
80: After this engagement had expired. he pro
duced at Milan, Anna Bolena, and the follow
ing year he brought out at second-rate theatre
Of Milan, the Elslre dAmore, which he COM
posed in fortnight!
In 1885 he came to Paris, where he wrote Ma
rino FaIiero, which was received rather coldly !;
he returned to Naples and composed his immor
tai work, chef d'nuvre it is Lucia
di Lammermoor which has been played with
the same iAexhanstible success in every country
in the civilized world As long as there are
voices to utter these accents of heart consum-
ed by love, Lucia will excite boundess adrnira-
ton, He returned to Paris in l840, and in a
year gave Les Martyrs, La File du Regiment
and La Fdvurite. You know the fate of La
File du Regiment, until Mile. Jenny Lind took
IT up. 1t was deemed failure and had been
quietly laid on the shelf of the archives closet I!
After various Excursions to Rome, Vienna, and
Milan. Donizetti returned to Paris in lS43 when
he wrote for the Grand Opera Don Sebastien de
Portugal, which was coldIy received here from
this circumstance: the Duke of Orleans had
Just been killed when the opera was produced !;
in the secord act there is the burial of king by
torchlight, which produced the most disastrous
effect on the audience. who had just returned
from the funeral of the Duke of Orleans. lis
success everywhere else was very great.
In the me year he wrote Don Pasquale in
Paris. and Maria di Rohan at Vienna need
not mention their success. which continues as
usiabated as ever. Donizetti's success is a new
instance of the wonderful results which The all
lance Of consummate science and imagination
may produce. He was not only familiar with
the chefs d'ccuvres of the great Italian and for
eign masters, but he had closely studied all tbs
| instrumental works of The French and The Ger
man schools His eruliioa, however, neve
once burdened The fighis of his inagi,ation.-
| His proIificuess has never been equaled morI
Than once at rehearsas Of full orchestra, he ha
completely changed passages that were not agree
able to him, and wtillen over again cavatinas
duos, and finaIes. Whenever 6 book" slrucl
him, he wrote the music for it with sort o
frenzy, without stopping a moment; he com
posed in this manner La File du Regiment in
week. and Don PasquaIe in seventeen days
Donizetn was both a poet and musician b
| wrote the !. book and the score Of La File d
/ Regiment and Don Pdsquale. His talents wer
as supple as they were prolific he is the onl
composer since. .Rossini. who has understood, an
clearly exhibited on the stage. the buffo and th
i serious styles. His genius seemed as inexhans
tible as some perennial spring. and yet T.