Out of Italian Gaetano Donizetti or Czech Bedřich Smetana, which opera composer lived and worked earlier?
Bedřich Smetana Bedřich Smetana (] ; 2 March 1824 – 12 May 1884) was a Czech composer who pioneered the development of a musical style which became closely identified with his country's aspirations to independent statehood. He is thus widely regarded in his homeland as the father of Czech music. Internationally he is best known for his opera "The Bartered Bride" and for the symphonic cycle "Má vlast" ("My Homeland"), which portrays the history, legends and landscape of the composer's native land.
Giovanni Ruffini Giovanni Ruffini (1807, Genoa – 1881) was an Italian poet of the early 19th century. He is chiefly known for having written the draft of the libretto of the opera "Don Pasquale" for its composer Gaetano Donizetti.