(b Salo, 15 Aug 1725; d Desenzano, 1 Dec 1813). Italian composer. After studying in Bologna with G. B. Martini, he settled in Venice, and had immediate success with his first comic opera, La vedova accorta (1745), and three opere serie (1746). Some 40 more operas followed; many, including Le pesciatrici (1751), were given abroad. As first organist at St Mark's from 1752 and maestro di cappella from 1785, he wrote masses, psalms and other sacred works. Many of his c 40 Latin oratorios and over 80 solo motets were composed for the female voices and orchestra of the Mendicanti orphanage. He also wrote occasional works for Venice, including the cantata L′isola reggia di Calipso (1769), and remained popular as an opera composer, notably with Orfeo ed Euridice (1776), which uses the Calzabigi text earlier set by Gluck. In 1778-83 he directed performances of his operas in London. His last opera was given in Venice in 1791.
