LEO, LEONARDO. - Musician, b. at S. Vito degli Schiavi (dei Normanni) on 5 Aug. 1694, d. at Naples on 31 Oct. 1744. He studied at the conservatory of the Pietà, where in 1712 he was appointed "masticello": in 1739 he succeeded Feo at the conservatory of S. Onofrio, while also continuing the school at the Pietà. Among his pupils were Piccinni and Jommelli. He was organist of the Royal Chapel and of the Cathedral.

A prolific composer, he wrote about 80 operas that made him deservedly famous and cause him to be considered one of the finest glories of the Neapolitan school, of which he was among the most illustrious founders. Eight oratorios and a great deal of sacred music, besides pieces for various instruments, are compositions admirable for elevation of form and religious feeling, although they bear the mark of the era in which they were composed. Many of his works are in manuscript in the libraries of Italy and Europe, others are printed in numerous modern editions.

Bibliography2 works

BIBL.: G. Leo, L. L. musicista del sec. XVIII e le sue opere musicali, Naples 1905; F. Piovano, A propos d'une récente biographie de L. L., in Sammelbände der international. Musikgesellschaft, 8 (1907), p. 126 ff.

Silverio Mattei

@incollection{ec7_leo_leonardo, author = {Mattei, Silverio}, title = {Leo, leonardo}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {VII}, pages = {1109--1110}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1951}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/leo-leonardo} }

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Leo, Leonardo

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