VINCI, LEONARDO

born 1690, Strongoli, Kingdom of Naples died May 27, 1730, Naples Italian composer who was prominent among the Neapolitan school of opera composers that included G.B. Pergolesi and Leonardo Leo. Vinci's first known work was a comic opera in the Neapolitan dialect, Lo cecato fauzo (1719; The False Blind Man). He served as chapelmaster to the prince of Sansevero and in 1725 received a conductorship of the royal chapel at Naples, a post he held until his death. His earliest extant serious opera, Silla dittatore (1723; Silla the Dictator), inaugurated a series of about 40 operas, of which 25 were written for Naples and 11 for Rome. Arias from his operas were published in London in 1758 under the title Collection of Songs. In addition to his operas, Vinci also composed oratorios, masses, and motets.