Mattei, Tito
1841-
Noted Italian pianist, composer and conductor; was born at Campobasso. He was educated in Naples, where he studied with Thalberg, Conti, Maggoni, Parisi and Ruta. When only eleven years old he was made Professore of the Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Rome. He played before Pope Pius IX., was given a special gold medal and appointed pianist to the King of Italy. In 1846 he gave his first concert, and afterward toured Italy, France and Germany. In 1863 he settled in London, where he became conductor at Her Majesty's Theatre. In 1870 he organized a season of Italian Opera, conducting it also. He has written a great number of piano-pieces and songs, among them The Spider and the Fly; For the Sake of the Past; Dear Heart; Non torno; Non e ver; and Oh! OhJ Hear the Wild Wind Blow. His operas are Maria di Grand, and the comic opera, La Prima Donna.