Donizetti on Disc
The widespread revival of Donizetti's lesser-known operas is a relatively recent phenomenon, but his most popular works never dropped out of the repertoire, and singers have always been happy to programme attractive numbers which otherwise do not get heard. On the 200th anniversary of Donizetti's birth, Gordon Stewart delves into the composer's operatic music as captured on disc during the first six decades of this century and comes up with a surprisingly wide range of recorded performances. Donizetti's opera Linda di Chamounix is broadcast tonight at 6.30pm. Producer Peter Tanner