In later years musicians became alarmed at Donizetti's rages in the 1840s. It was an effect of syphilies that was taking hold. He was removed to an asylum and died tragically. SCS lecture by Jonathan Keates on ‘Gaetano Donizetti: A Composer at Court in Bourbon Naples’.

Eventually Donizetti found success at the Viennese court. The imperial family was enthusiastic and he finally was appointed court composer. A key figure was Metternich who loved opera but also saw it as a "social weapon". SCS lecture by Jonathan Keates on ‘Gaetano Donizetti'

King Ferdinand II kept Donizetti "dangling". He was kept as a court asset without being given any advantages of being a formal court composer. Donizetti being a subject of the Austrian emperor was always held against him. SCS lecture by Jonathan Keates on Gaetano Donizetti

Donizetti's opera on Mary Stuart ran into problems in 1834 as it was rehearsed. King Ferdinand II (Il Re Bomba...) intervened. He did not like the portrayal of queens in the opera. So it was withdrawn. SCS online lecture by Jonathan Keates on ‘Gaetano Donizetti´.

Censorship was a constant problems for Donizetti. Religion could be a problem or the portrayal of monarchy. Furthermore, the Neapolitan royal family liked operas with happy endings... SCS lecture by Jonathan Keates on ‘Gaetano Donizetti: A Composer at Court in Bourbon Naples’.

SCS online lecture by Jonathan Keates on ‘Gaetano Donizetti: A Composer at Court in Bourbon Naples’. The Neapolitan Queen was outrageously scandalous, but Donizetti composed for her celebratory days such as namedays, birthdays, etc.

SCS online lecture by Jonathan Keates on ‘Gaetano Donizetti: A Composer at Court in Bourbon Naples’. King Francesco I had a passion for opera and thought of Donizetti as a court composer, although he was not officially one.

SCS online lecture by Jonathan Keates on ‘Gaetano Donizetti: A Composer at Court in Bourbon Naples’. An aspect of Donizetti's life that is particular to him - he became a court composer. He was also from Bergamo and as such an outsider at the Naples court.

Tomorrow is Donizetti time! SCS online lecture by Jonathan Keates on ‘Gaetano Donizetti: A Composer at Court in Bourbon Naples’. Sign up (deadline approachine): eventbrite.co.uk/e/jonathan-…

Lecture by Alix Giordano on ‘The Embodiment of the Power of Valois Dukes of Burgundy Through the Castles of the County of Burgundy (14th-15th Centuries)’ in full swing at the European branch of the SCS.

The court Burgundy is essential when studying medieval or early modern court. Do join the adventure on Thursday! eventbrite.fr/e/oct-vss-the-…

📣 Our Oct seminar takes place this week! On 15 October Alix Giordano (Université Bourgogne Europe) will present ‘The Embodiment of the Power of Valois Dukes of Burgundy Through the Castles of the County of Burgundy (14th-15th Centuries)’ Register below eventbrite.fr/e/oct-vss-the-…

One week to go until our 30th anniversary symposium at St Mary's University Twickenham and Strawberry Hill House! Arrival at St Mary's from 1pm! We hope to see many of you there! Not registered yet? No problem! Click the link below to sign up! eventbrite.co.uk/e/scs-30th-…

Irish Jacobites in West Indies intermarried with their own community. As the prospects of a Stuart restoration dimmed, prospects for these families turned actually quite bleak. Indebted and reliant on exiled court. (SCS lecture, Harry M Lewis)

Especially Jacobites exiles in Martinique used Terry's certified genealogies/nobility. Thereby getting offices and in other way establishing themselves. (SCS lecture, Harry M Lewis “The Stuart Court in Exile as Colonial Actor”.)

Some exiles used confirmed genealogies/nobility to establish in the West Indies or other parts of Spanish/French America. (SCS lecture, Harry M Lewis “The Stuart Court in Exile as Colonial Actor”.)

Terry could confirm the nobility of exiles - a help for the Stuart court in exile. New peerages also awarded to exiles. This helped to create a group identity. (SCS lecture, Harry M Lewis “The Stuart Court in Exile as Colonial Actor”.)

Some English and Scottish exiles had testified genealogies. Much less so for Irish exiles. James Terry was an exiled herald and could act for the Stuart exiled court - having grabbed the official seal & genealogies. The Irish heralds office in exile was important. (Harry M Lewis)