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Gaetano Donizetti

A Romantic Sensation: 'Lucia Di Lammermoor'

Elena Mosuc as the title character in 'Lucia di Lammermoor' at the Teatro Regio in Turin. Alberto Ramella/SYNC/Teatro Regio di Torino hide caption

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Alberto Ramella/SYNC/Teatro Regio di Torino

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A Romantic Sensation: 'Lucia Di Lammermoor'

WDAV

An opera that's wound its way into a host of other works, from Anna Karenina to Martin Scorsese's The Departed.

Hear An Introduction To 'Lucia Di Lammermoor'

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Brilliance In The Shadows: Mercadante's 'Virginia'

Saverio Mercadante's rarely performed opera Virginia from Wexford Opera Festival in Ireland. Clive Barda/Courtesy of Wexford Festival Opera hide caption

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Clive Barda/Courtesy of Wexford Festival Opera

NPR World of Opera

Brilliance In The Shadows: Mercadante's 'Virginia'

WDAV

Once a huge hit in Italy, this opera by the nearly forgotten Saverio Mercadante has long languished. But it's full of great music — and ancient Roman intrigues.

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History Under the Bright Lights: Donizetti's 'Anna Bolena'

Soprano Anna Netrebko stars in the Vienna State Opera production of Donizetti's Anna Bolena. Michael Pohn/Vienna State Opera hide caption

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Michael Pohn/Vienna State Opera

Music

History Under the Bright Lights: Donizetti's 'Anna Bolena'

Thanks to Donizetti, the historical figure Anne Boleyn has been sung by some of the world's greatest divas — from Maria Callas to Montserrat Caballé. With this new Vienna production, Anna Netrebko joins the list.

Hear An Introduction To 'Anna Bolena'

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History with a Twist: Donizetti's 'Roberto Devereux'

Queen Elizabeth (soprano Carmela Remigio) tries to use her power to gain love — with disastrous consequences. Teatro dell'Opera di Roma hide caption

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Teatro dell'Opera di Roma

NPR World of Opera

History with a Twist: Donizetti's 'Roberto Devereux'

WDAV

Donizetti's semi-historical drama brings life to rumors that were already spreading back in the 1500s: that the so-called "Virgin Queen" actually had a secret and passionate love life.

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NPR World of Opera

Passions And Potions: Donizetti's 'The Elixir of Love'

WDAV

Donizetti's unassuming comedy serves up magic elixirs and romance -- and a couple of solid insights. It demonstrates that, when it comes to love, the genuine article beats any potion-induced passion.

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Renee Fleming Sings 'Lucrezia Borgia'

Renee Fleming in the title role of Donizetti's Lucrezia Borgia at the Washington National Opera. Karin Cooper via Washington National Opera hide caption

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Karin Cooper via Washington National Opera

Concerts

Renee Fleming Sings 'Lucrezia Borgia'

Acclaimed soprano Renee Fleming tackles the unforgiving title role, with Placido Domingo conducting, in a Washington National Opera production of Donizetti's steamy historical drama.

Renee Fleming Sings 'Lucrezia Borgia'

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Enrico Caruso, And Confessions Of An Operaholic

Tenor Enrico Caruso (circa 1910) as Pagliacci. Getty Images hide caption

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50 Great Voices

Enrico Caruso, And Confessions Of An Operaholic

An NPR Music producer recalls how a single singer from a bygone day triggered his love of opera. Once he heard the warmth and power of tenor Enrico Caruso's voice, he had to hear more.

Enrico Caruso, And Confessions Of An Operaholic

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Music

Donizetti's Darling 'Daughter of the Regiment'

Soprano JiYoung Lee stars as a "military brat" who gets adopted by an entire army. The opera is Donizetti's Gallic, romantic romp, The Daughter of the Regiment, from the Washington National Opera.

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Deceptive Seduction: Donizetti's 'Don Pasquale'

Donizetti had already composed more than 60 operas when he wrote Don Pasquale, a brilliant comedy warmed by the composer's trademark touch of gentle pathos. The production is from Houston Grand Opera.

An Audio Introduction to the Opera

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Concerts

Mad About Donizetti's 'Lucie Di Lammermoor'

With a blood-spattered bride and a high-intensity mad scene, Donizetti's early-19th-century hit sets the standard for operatic melodrama. It gets a rare performance in its French version from Glimmerglass Opera, in upstate New York.

Hear an Audio Introduction to 'Lucie di Lammermoor'

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Music

Quarreling Queens: Donizetti's 'Maria Stuarda'

In real life, Elizabeth I and Mary Stuart were political rivals. But in the opera house passion plays better than politics, so in Maria Stuarda, the two monarchs are also in love with the same man. In Mary's case, her passion proves deadly.

An Audio Intro to 'Maria Stuarda,' featuring the Dixie Chicks

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Music Interviews

Luciano Pavarotti, King of the High Cs, Dies at 71

With his free-ringing high notes and his immense fame, the singer brought opera into the lives of millions of people worldwide. He embodied the idea of the "Italian tenor" with passion, charisma and a firm, fresh voice.

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Donizetti's 'Anna Bolena'

The tragic story of King Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn, provided Gaetano Donizetti with plenty of emotional material for his opera Anna Bolena. The production from Opera Orchestra of New York stars James Morris as Henry and Krassimira Stoyanova as the ill-fated Anne.

Act One

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