Spinelli, Nicola

1865-

Italian operatic composer, belonging to the new school. Was born in Turin; the son of a jurist, and received his musical instruction at the Naples Conservatory, under Serrao and other teachers. His first opera was the one-act Cobelia, which appeared in 1890 and took the second prize offered by Sonzogno, Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana winning the first. Spinelli's next operatic work was a three-act lyric drama, entitled A Basso Porto, and was given with success in several Italian cities, at Cologne in German in 1894 and at Leipsic in 1898.