orig. Baltazarini di Belgioioso
born 16th century, Piedmont region
died 1587, Paris, Fr.
Italian-born French composer and choreographer.
In 1555 he left Italy for Paris and joined the court of Catherine de Médicis as a violinist. There he organized unofficial court fetes and became valet de chambre to the royal family. In 1581 he staged the lavish Ballet comique de la reine ; considered the first ballet, it was emulated by other European courts and was the precursor of developments in ballet for the next century.