LEONARDO

VINCI (1690-173o)  , Italian musical composer, was born at Strongoli in Calabria in 1690 and educated at Naples under Gaetano Greco in the Conservatorio dei Poveri di Gesu Cristo . He became known first by his comic operas in Neapolitan dialect in 1719; he also composed many serious operas . He was received into the Congregation of the Rosary at Formiello in 1728 and died by poisoning in 1730, not 1732, as is generally stated . His comic operas, of which Le Zite 'n Calera (1722) is the best, are full of life and spirit; in his serious operas, of which Didone Abbandonata (Rome, 1728) and Artaserse (Rome, 1730) are the most notable, have an incisive vigour and directness of dramatic expression deservedly praised by Burney . The well-known air " Vo solcando," from Artaserse, is a good example of his style .