Latilla, Gaetano

1713-1789

Born at Bari, Italy, where as a boy he sang in the Cathedral choir. He received his musical education at the San Onofrio Conservatory in Naples, where he was a pupil of Domenico Gizzi. In 1738 he was appointed second chapelmaster at Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome, but his health was so poor that he returned to Naples, in 1741, and devoted his time to composition. He was made choir director at the Conservatorio della Pieta at Naples in 1756, and in 1762 second conductor at St. Mark's. After ten years of service there he returned to Naples, where he died. His compositions include about thirtysix operas, of which Orazio was the  most important; much church-music; six string quartets; and many arias and duets.