A versatile and prolific composer whose works dominated opera houses in the late 1830s and 1840s. Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848) had an enormous influence on subsequent opera composers, including Verdi. Yet the texts of many of his operas pose numerous problems, partly due to the accumulation of changes made by generations of interpreters. With the renewed popularity of his operas, the need for a critical edition became keenly felt. This highly acclaimed edition does not aim to publish all his works, but will offer a variety of operas, from those still in the repertory to a selection of titles that are especially significant for historical or musical reasons.
The critical edition of Maria Stuarda, based principally on the rediscovered autograph score, restores the two-act structure, the original opening chorus, a substantial part of the first finale, and Donizetti's original phrasing and orchestration. Appendixes include an overture (1835) and original vocal variants.
