Donizetti’s Love and Loss – “Il sogno” cover art

Donizetti’s Love and Loss – “Il sogno”

Donizetti’s Love and Loss – “Il sogno”

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 He wrote over 70 operas, but what do we really know about Gaetano Donizetti?In this opening episode of 'Lives in Song' from Opera Rara, our host, opera historian Flora Willson is joined by esteemed opera scholar Roger Parker, as we delve into Donizetti's life and works, focusing on celebrated opera composer's lesser-known contributions to song.Together we dive into one of his most personal and mysterious works, 'Il sogno' ('The Dream'), and explore how the tragic death of Donizetti's wife, Virginia, may have inspired this intimate and deeply poignant piece of music.Through excerpts of contrasting performances by Lawrence Brownlee, Nelly Miricioiu and Renée Fleming, we highlight the emotional range and depth of Donizetti's work, both for the opera house and the salon.And we discuss how the composer's songs offer a different, more intimate glimpse into his artistry.This inspiring exploration is part of our mission at Opera Rara to unearth and share these forgotten masterpieces - a mission only made possible by our dedicated supporters."I roused myself trembling from sleep. She still remained before me, and in the uncertain beams of the sun, I believed that I saw her again."Chapters:00:00 - Donizetti: More Than Just an Opera Composer04:15 - From Grand Opera to Intimate Songs09:22 - 1837: A Year of Tragedy and Creative Turmoil15:48 - Decoding 'Il sogno': A Song of Personal Grief?23:01 - The 'Lucia di Lammermoor' Connection27:14 - Rediscovering Donizetti's 200 SongsGet Involved► REVIEW & SUBSCRIBE Follow or subscribe to make sure you never miss an episode. And please leave a review to help other opera-lovers discover our work.► DISCOVER Opera Rara's work to unearth, restore, and record lost and forgotten operas by some of music's greatest composers► SUPPORT a unique operatic vision and help us create more content like this:► EXPLORE the full Opera Rara catalogue► FOLLOW OPERA RARA:YouTubeInstagramX / TwitterFacebookLinkedInBlueSkySupportersThis season of Lives in Song has been made possible by the generous support ofAndrea Pessino, Opera Rara's 2024-25 season Donizetti Songs Supporter and the Opera Rara Donizetti Syndicate.The Donizetti Song Project is supported by the Colwinston Charitable Trust and the Cockayne Grants for the Arts at the London Community Foundation. Opera Rara's work is only made possible by the support of our loyal family of donors and listeners.For more information about supporting Opera Rara, please visit opera-rara.com/support.CreditsLives in Song is produced for Opera Rara by Creative Kin.Output Editor: Jason CaffreyProducer: Milly MarchExecutive Producer: Zachary Vanderburg
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