In the 1830s, Gaetano Donizetti was at the height of his powers. With his operas conquering stages across Italy, he set his sights on the ultimate prize: Paris. But beyond the grand spectacle of the opera house, Donizetti was also exploring a more intimate, personal, and commercially savvy world – the world of song.

In this episode, host Flora Willson is joined by leading Donizetti scholar Professor Roger Parker to delve into this pivotal decade of the composer’s career.

They uncover how the ambition to write for the Paris Opéra shaped works like L’assedio di Calais and led to a fascination with the “exotic.”

You’ll also hear the fascinating story behind Donizetti’s ‘Lamento per Bellini’ (Lament for Bellini), a moving tribute where he deliberately imitates the musical style of his greatest rival – Vincenzo Bellini. Finally, we listen to the flirtatious Neapolitan charm of La conocchia (The Spindle), a perfect example of how Donizetti’s songs were becoming a popular commodity across Europe.

This series is part of Opera Rara’s mission to unearth, restore, and record the lost and forgotten works of opera’s greatest composers – a mission made possible by our loyal supporters.

“None of Donizetti’s operas was ever finished. They were just abandoned, basically. And if he had an opportunity to come back, he would always rewrite things.” –  Roger Parker