(1797 - 1848)
Gaetano Donizetti was born in Bergamo in 1797 and was fortunate enough to find a patron in Simon Mayr, the Maestro di cappella at Bergamo Cathedral. Donizetti was an apprentice for 12 years where he learned his craft first in the opera houses of northern Italy and then from 1822 in Naples, where six years later he was appointed director of the Royal Theatres. His first major success was Anna Bolena (his 31st opera) which had its premiere in Milan in 1830. Within a decade Donizetti’s take on the Tudors had conquered Europe and crossed the Atlantic to New York and Rio de Janeiro. Donizetti was prolific and composed 25 operas in the next eight years, including L’elisir d’amore, Lucrezia Borgia, Maria Stuarda, Roberto Devereux and Lucia di Lammermoor.
Gaetano Donizetti Composition Timpani and Percussion Requirements
Don Pasquale - Overture
Timpani + 2 percussion
1) orchestral bass drum, 2) clash cymbals
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Elisabetta
Timpani + 2 percussion
1) clash cymbals, thunder sheet, 2) orchestral bass drum
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Elisir D'Amore
Timpani + 2 percussion + 1 stage percussion
1) orchestral bass drum, 2) clash cymbals, stage) snare drum
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