DONIZETTI

Gaetano Donizetti, who was primarily known as a prolific opera composer, also wrote almost 300 songs, which were intended for intimate gatherings of friends, professionals and wealthy amateurs. Although Donizetti seemed seemingly blasé about his songs, they contain much of interest. Their melodious beauty and structural certainty are consistently engaging, whether it comes to ballades or canzonetta's, theatrical arietta's or poignant love laments. By setting poets from Pietro Metastasio to his contemporaries to music, Donizetti was able to explore a wide range of subjects with humor, sentiment, long vocal lines and quasi-orchestral piano accompaniment. A digital single of Lamento per la morte di V. Bellini is also available to stream and download