Why did Donizetti’s operas decline in popularity by the early 20th century?

By the early 20th century, the popularity of Gaetano Donizetti’s operas had declined significantly, with his works nearly disappearing from the repertory by 1914. This shift was primarily driven by two major factors:1

• Changing Musical Tastes: Operatic trends moved away from the bel canto style, which emphasized vocal agility and light, florid melodies, in favor of heavier, more dramatic singing styles.2
• Shifting Repertoire: Donizetti’s works were increasingly overshadowed by the more substantial and dramatic masterpieces of Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner, whose influence dominated the late 19th and early 20th-century operatic landscape.1

While Donizetti was a master of both serious and comic opera—exemplified by the enduring success of Don Pasquale—the technical demands of his bel canto writing became a challenge as the prevailing aesthetic evolved. Interest in his works was eventually revived in the 1950s, restoring his place in the standard operatic repertoire.12