born Dec. 17, 1749, Aversa, Kingdom of Naples
died Jan. 11, 1801, Venice
Italian opera composer.
Son of a stonemason, he studied at the Naples Conservatory. His first opera was produced in 1772, and by the mid-1780s he was internationally known. A short engagement as kapellmeister at the Viennese court resulted in the famous comic opera Il matrimonio segreto (1792). In 1796 he became organist in the royal chapel of Naples. He wrote some 75 operas, remarkable for their apt characterizations and abundant comic life. He wrote many choral works, including the cantata Il maestro di cappella , a popular satire on contemporary operatic rehearsal methods. Among his instrumental works, which, like his operas, have been successfully revived, are many sparkling harpsichord sonatas and a concerto for two flutes.