Gaetano Donizetti (born Bergamo29 November1797; died Bergamo 8 April1848) was an Italiancomposer. He was the most famous composer of operas in Italy in the years between the death of Bellini (1835) and the time when Verdi was becoming well-known. Bellini and Donizetti wrote operas in the bel canto style: music with beautiful, smooth melodies.