Since the early 1990s Bergamo, the birthplace of Gaetano Donizetti, has devoted enormous energy to the study of the composer’s life and works – some of the most frequently performed in the world – and research into his teacher, Simone Mayr. The arrival in 2015 of Francesco Micheli as artistic director of the then Fondazione Donizetti (today the Fondazione Teatro Donizetti) marked the start of the Donizetti Revolution, a programme for the rediscovery and promotion of the genius from Bergamo’s Borgo Canale district. At the heart of this series of initiatives are the Donizetti Opera festival and Donizetti Night: the former is an international festival held every November in tribute to Bergamo’s most illustrious composer; the latter a June night of homage to Donizetti, during which the streets and squares of the city are invaded by theatre for an evening of his operatic work. In 2017, with the aim of developing the city’s musical identity and awakening a genuine pride in Donizetti, a group of tourism operators created Visit Donizetti: Bergamo’s visitor experience which guides tourists in their discovery of the composer, from the house where he was born to the Donizetti Museum, and along the way little-known treasures such as the original manuscript of Lucia di Lammermoor. You’ll find all this and much more on this website.

How we missed the Donizetti Night! Our community came together to celebrate its most illustrious citizen amidst smiles, cheerfulness, music and colours: Donizetti belongs to each citizen of Bergamo every day more, and Bergamo is the city of Donizetti every day more.

Once again, our Gaetano went beyond all expectations: the return of Donizetti Night on 3 June was welcomed by wonderful evening weather and by the enthusiasm of so many people from Bergamo as well as of tourists (more than 50,000 people were counted!) who celebrated the music, art and history of the composer.

You missed it? Watch the video and photo gallery: we look forward to seeing you at the Donizetti Night 2024!