Gaetano Donizetti: The Original Italian Stallion

(1797-1848)

Gaetano Donizetti was a composer who made waves in the world of Italian opera in the early 19th century. He was a master of the bel canto style of singing, which involves high-pitched, dramatic vocals that can cause glassware to shatter and dogs to howl.

Despite his musical prowess, Donizetti was also known for his wild antics and outrageous behavior. Legend has it that he once snuck into a dressing room before a performance and swapped out the lead singer’s costume with a chicken suit. He then watched with glee as the singer strutted onstage, oblivious to the feathers ruffling around his feet.

Donizetti also had a penchant for practical jokes, frequently prank-calling other composers and pretending to be their biggest fans. He even wrote a fake negative review of his own work, just to see the look on people’s faces when they read it.

Despite all this tomfoolery, Donizetti was a prolific composer who churned out a staggering 66 operas in his lifetime. His most famous works include “ Lucia di Lammermoor ,” “ L’elisir d’amore ,” and “ Don Pasquale .” He was a master of creating catchy tunes that could get stuck in your head for days on end.

Donizetti’s life was tragically cut short when he died suddenly at the age of 51. Some say he died of syphilis, while others claim it was the result of a particularly hearty pasta dinner. Regardless of the cause, his legacy lives on today in the countless productions of his works around the world.

So if you find yourself humming an earworm of an aria or giggling at a silly costume switch during a performance of Donizetti’s work, just remember: that’s exactly what he would have wanted.