Francesco Gasparini was one of the most successful operatic composers of the early eighteenth century, working principally in Venice and Rome, but writing for theatres and occasions in other cities as well. He was born near Lucca in 1661. He was an organist early in his career, working at the church of Madonna dei Monti, but also was reported to be an accomplished singer and violinist. Since operatic productions were not allowed in Rome during his early years there (because of papal restrictions), he was forced to write for the theatre elsewhere. His first operas were thus written for Brescia in 1684. By 1690, the restrictions were lifted and he was writing for the Roman theatres. In 1701 he won the position of maestro di coro at the Ospedale della Pietà in Venice. His first intermezzo, Lisetta e Astrobolo, was written there in 1707, shortly after the genre came into being as a separately performed work. He remained in Venice until 1713, during which time he wrote 24 operas, all for the Teatro San Cassiano. From Venice, Gasparini returned to Rome, settling there for good in 1716, when he became maestro di cappella to Prince Francesco Maria Ruspoli, succeeding Antonio Caldara in the position. Two years later he became a member of the Accademia dell’Arcadia. Gasparini was praised by his contemporaries for the high quality of his recitatives.