Leonardo Vinci

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Not to be confused with Leonardo da Vinci.

Leonardo Vinci (1690 - May 27, 1730) was an Italian musical composer, best known for his operas.

He was born at Strongoli (or Naples) and educated at Naples under Gaetano Greco in the Conservatorio dei Poveri di Gesù Cristo. He first became known for his opera buffa in Neapolitan dialect in 1719; he also composed many opera seria. He was received into the Congregation of the Rosary at Formiello in 1728 and died by poisoning in 1730 — not 1732, as is sometimes stated.

Vinci's opera buffa, of which Le Zite 'n Galera (1722) is generally regarded as the best, are full of life and spirit; his opera seria, of which Didone Abbandonata (Rome, 1728) and Artaserse (Rome, 1730) are the most notable, have an incisive vigour and directness of dramatic expression praised by Charles Burney. The well-known aria "Vo solcando," from Artaserse, is a good example of his style.

This entry was originally from the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.