Giovanni Paisiello

This Italian composer wrote a number of comic operas, serious operas, masses, motets, cantatas, oratorios and keyboard concertos and was one of the most important operatic composers during his life time. His forte was comic opera having presented works in northern Italy and then returning to his home in Naples where Paisiello established himself as a prominent composer. Between 1776 and 1784 he served in the court of Catherine II in St. Petersburg as the master of the chapel. While serving in her court Paisiello composed "Il barbiere di Siviglia" (The Barber of Seville) which ...