Gaetano Donizetti (1797–1848) was a prolific Italian composer and a central figure of the bel canto era, writing nearly 70 operas. Born into poverty in Bergamo, his talent was discovered early by Simone Mayr, who secured his musical education. Donizetti rose to international fame with Anna Bolena (1830) and went on to create enduring masterpieces including L’elisir d’amore (1832), Lucia di Lammermoor (1835), and Don Pasquale (1843). His music shaped 19th‑century opera between Bellini and Verdi. His later years were marked by illness, and he died in his hometown after a long decline.