Franco Vittadini

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Franco Vittadini (April 09, 1884 – November 30, 1948) was an Italian composer and conductor. As a composer he is mostly known for his compositions in opera and sacred music.

Born in Pavia, he began his musical studies in 1903 at the Milan Conservatory. For a short period he was maestro di cappella and organist in Varese, thereafter spending the rest of his life in Pavia where he was the director of the Istituto Musicale from 1924 until his death.

As a stage composer, Vittadini found his greatest success with the opera Anima allegra (1918 - 1919), performed abroad as well as in Italy. His ballet Vecchia Milano (1928) was also very successful. Vittadini considered his opera Caracciolo (1938) to be his finest work, but his opera Fiammetta e l'avaro (1942 - 1951) was more successful at winning audiences.

Vittadini received attention outside the theater for his religious works. The oratorio L'agonia del Redentore (1933) is considered to be one of his finer works.