Historical Background

Leonardo Leo (1694-1744) was an 18th-century composer from Brindisi, Italy. He had a prolific career as a royal organist, a teacher at the famed conservatories, and a leading composer for the stage. He as well as Leonardo Vinci and Johann Adolph Hasse were the three leading composers of opera seria in Naples.

What set Leo apart from his contemporaries was his ability to master two very different worlds:

• The Master of Counterpoint: Leonardo Leo was considered a master of counterpoint because he was the first of the Neapolitan school to bridge the gap between rigorous, ancient polyphony and the “modern” harmonic sensibilities of the 18th century.
• The Pioneer of Comedy:  He was a key developer of Opera Buffa. He had a brilliant knack for capturing human wit and rhythmic energy, using smaller works like his intermezzi to experiment with the expressive, naturalistic vocal style that would eventually dominate European music.

By the time of his death in 1744, he had left behind a massive body of work including over 60 operas, numerous oratorios, and a legacy as one of the most influential music educators of the Baroque era.

“Rosina e Lesbo” was first performed in Naples in 1717 and was paired with Leo’s “Sesostri re di Egitto.” The librettist is unknown