Unpublished Donizetti Psalm Setting Discovered in Bergamo Archive
A newly uncovered four-page manuscript by Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti has surfaced in the Diocese of Bergamo, igniting excitement among music historians. The manuscript, dating from 1818 to 1821, includes an arrangement of Psalm 110, 'Dixit Dominus,' written for three male voices without instrumental accompaniment. Discovered on February 24, 2026, by musicologist William Limonta and archivist Michele Enrico Poli amidst 860 archival items, its authenticity was verified by experts through careful handwriting analysis. The work is set to debut on November 29, 2026, at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore as part of the Donizetti Opera Festival.
Key facts
- Manuscript of Psalm 110 setting by Gaetano Donizetti discovered
- Four pages, for three male voices a cappella
- Composed between 1818 and 1821
- Found on 24 February 2026 by William Limonta and Michele Enrico Poli
- Part of a project cataloguing over 860 items from the Diocese of Bergamo
- Authenticity confirmed by Fabrizio Capitanio and Paolo Fabbri
- First modern performance on 29 November 2026 at Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
- Part of Donizetti Opera 2026 Festival programme
Entities
Artists
- Gaetano Donizetti
- William Limonta
- Michele Enrico Poli
- Fabrizio Capitanio
- Paolo Fabbri
- Riccardo Frizza
- Stanislao Mattei
Institutions
- Teatro Donizetti
- Gaetano Donizetti Music Library
- Donizetti Studies Centre
- Donizetti Theatre Foundation
- Donizetti Opera Festival
- Diocese of Bergamo
- Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
Locations
- Bergamo
- Italy
- Bologna
- Sala della Musica M. Tremaglia