( b Milan, 1706; d there, 12 June 1788). Italian composer, possibly a son of the Italian writer Giovanni Battista Lampugnani (fl 1690-98). Presenting his first serious operas in Milan in the 1730s, he established a wide reputation. In 1743-4 he was resident composer at the King's Theatre, London, where he presented two operas and contributed to pasticcios. After returning to Italy he composed several more operas, including his five comic ones (1758-69, Milan). Later he worked in Milan as a singing teacher and harpsichordist. His c 23 serious operas are unusual for combining light, tuneful writing (like that in his comic works) with elaborate melodic ornamentation. He also composed two serenatas, sacred pieces, many songs and arias, and several trio sonatas and sinfonias similar to G. B. Sammartini's.
The Concise Grove Dictionary of Music. Copyright © 1994 by Oxford University Press, Inc.. All rights reserved.