Giovanni Battista Pergolesi was an Italian composer born in 1710 in Jesi, Italy. He is well-known for his significant contributions to Baroque music, especially in opera and sacred compositions. Pergolesi studied in Naples, where he developed a unique musical style that combined emotional depth with lyrical melodies. Despite his short life, as he tragically passed away from tuberculosis at the age of just 26, his influence on music has been profound and lasting.

His most famous work, the Stabat Mater, is a deeply moving sacred composition that remains one of the most widely published works of the 18th century. Furthermore, his comic opera La serva padrona played a crucial role in establishing the genre of opera buffa in Europe. Pergolesi’s music is celebrated for its elegant simplicity, and his ability to weave drama and beauty into his compositions continues to inspire future generations of musicians, including the likes of Mozart, ensuring his legacy lives on.