At Montaione there is a local band called "Filarmonica Gaetano Donizetti", a cultural association (non-profit): this group was founded in 1832 (legally recognized, see its statute, in 1953).

It has the scope of promoting musical culture, developing associationism and voluntary partecipation, open to all, particularly young people, through the organization of courses of dance and school of music.

The Band is regularly registered in ANBIMA, (National Association of Musical Bands); composed of about 40 musicians and a ballet corps of 30 majorettes. Thanks to their repertoire , we are availed of a rich calendar of appointments: concerts, religious services and parades, both national and international.
Thanks to the work of Maestro Cetti Giuliano, director since over 38 years, the group is harmonized, and quite rare in a small town, all components are from Montaione.Without a doubt, it is merit of the association: in fact we can be proud to say that in every Montaione home there is a musical instrument!!! Many, in fact, are those who have belonged to the Filarmonica.
We see by past photos the passing from the uniform, conformed to the National Band of the Kingdom of Italy, to the uniform of today: surely very elegant, its colors are Navy-Blue, the trousers, and a white cream colored jacket. They have Winter jackets of the same Blue: an exclusive model.
Available also are pom-pom (directly purchased in the United States), batons, flags and all utilized during the exhibitions of our majorettes.

Our name

Our name derives from the composer Gaetano Donizetti, who was born in Bergamo on 29th November 1797 and has been famous above all as composer of operas.

Donizetti

His family was of humble condition and because of this he was admitted to the benevolent lessons of music held by Giovanni Simone Mayr. He immediately showed a remarkable talent, so succeeding in making up for the modest quality of his voice (it was necessary to dearly develop the service of chorister to be able to continue the free courses) by means of his progress in studying music. Actually it was his Maestro who offered his pupil the possibilities of success, following his formation and entrusting him to the cares of Stanislao Mattei. In Bologna he wrote "Il Pigmalione", which was his first work of theater. Later he musical experiences in Venice and subsequently he moved to Rome where he made his debut on the 12th May 1822 with "La Zingara"; his masterpieces however were written in the years 30: the first one was "Anna Bolena" written in only 30 days for the Theater Carcano in Milan. In 1832 the Milanese public applauded the first representation of "L´elisir d´amore", but his real masterpiece was and is "Lucia di Lammermoor" performed at the Theater San Carlo of Naples and written in only 36 days Famous is the Vincenzo Bellini´s fierce criticism of Donizetti, even if this one admired the music of the Catania composer). The year after, he had the tragedy of losing his father, mother and second daughter . Two years after, also his third daughter and his wife died. He underwent great tragedies ("without father, without mother, without wife and without children. .. for whom am I living, for whom am I working? I have lost everything"). Nevertheless Donizetti continued to compose, romantic dramas and comic operas. In 1843 he composed "Don Pasquale", but the work was for a long time attributed to Michael Accursio, since it was signed M.A., which means Anonymous Master, and he was obliged to greatly rearrange it. Other works came out of his, as "Dom Sebastien", a great success in Paris, and "Caterina Cornaro" that was hissed in Naples, with great disappointment of Donizetti. The madness provoked by syphilis brought him to be shut in the madhouse of Ivry. He was released only a few months before his death in Bergamo on the 8th of April 1848. In his native town there is a Museum dedicated to him.

Our Logo

Our logos is formed by a golden lyre, which is on the coat-of-arms of Montaione municipality (a hind which has underneath, interlaced, a branch of oak and one of holly, forming a semicircle.

logo