, principal organist of the chapel royaj at Naples, was not only admired
, principal organist of the chapel
royaj at Naples, was not only admired and respected by
his contemporaries, but his memory still continues to be
held in reverence by every professor that is acquainted
with his works. He was born in 1689. The first opera of
his composition is thought to be “Sofonisba,
” which was
performed in Naples in Siface,
” in
Bologna, Olimpiade
” of Metastasio. “Dirti ben mio vovice
” was
in extreme high favour, as set by Leo, about the middle
of the last century, in England, where it was sure to be
heard at every musical performance, both public and private. Leo likewise set Metastasio' s oratorio of “St. Elena
al Calvario,
” in which there are some very fine airs. His
celebrated “Miserere,
” in eight real parts, though imperfectly performed in London at the Pantheon, for Ansani’s
benefit, 1781, convinced real judges that it was of the
highest class of choral compositions.