Quirino Gasparini

Quirino Gasparini was an Italian composer, born in Gandino, near Bergamo, Italy. He studied for the priesthood, but largely devoted his life to music, becoming maestro de capello at Turin's cathedral. His compositions are mainly of church music, including a Stabat Mater which is still performed occasionally. He also wrote several operas, including a 1767 setting of Vittorio Amadeo Cigna-Santi's libretto Mitridate, re di Ponto, which three years later was also set by the 14-year-old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart for the 1770 Milan carnival.