When the Music Stopped
Donald Macleod discusses the devastating physical and mental collapse Donizetti suffered shortly after the premiere of his grand opera Dom Sebastien, roi de Portugal.
Gaetano Donizetti composed almost 70 operas in 19th-century Italy, the age of the impresario, the prima donna and the star tenor. Donald Macleod traces his extraordinary life.
By the 1840s Donizetti enjoyed success in Paris, and had been appointed Hofkapellmeister to the Austrian Emperor. He was the most performed opera composer in Italy, and Don Pasquale and Linda di Chamounix received ecstatic receptions. However tragegy was to strike: shortly after the premiere of his grand opera Dom Sébastien, roi de Portugal, Donizetti suffered a devastating physical and mental collapse.
Last on
More episodes
Next
You are at the last episode
Music Played
![]()
Gaetano Donizetti
6 Arias for voice and piano (1-4)
Performer: Michael Pollock. Singer: Nuccia Focile.- UNICORN-KANCHANA : KDP (CD)-9161.
- UNICORN-KANCHANA.
- 12-15.
![]()
Gaetano Donizetti
Don Pasquale - Act 3 sc.1; Cheti, cheti, immantinente [Pasquale, Malatesta]
Orchestra: London S O.. Narrator: Sarah Caldwell. Choir: Ambrosian Opera Chorus.- EMI: 566030.
- EMI.
- 18.
![]()
Gaetano Donizetti
Linda di Chamounix - Act 3 extract
Singer: Cesare Valletti. Singer: Rina Corsi. Singer: Giuseppe Modesti. Singer: Giuseppe Taddei. Singer: Fedora Barbieri. Conductor: Tullio Serafin. Singer: Renato Capecchi. Orchestra: San Carlo Theatre Orchestra, Naples. Singer: Antonietta Stella.- PHILIPS : 442-093-2.
- PHILIPS.
- 17.
Broadcasts
- Fri 19 Sep 201412:00BBC Radio 3
- Fri 19 Sep 201418:30BBC Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed – the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod’s best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time – why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.
