Celebrated Italian composer of operatic music, born at Pesaro; his operas were numerous, of a high order, and received with unbounded applause, beginning with "Tancred," followed by "Barber of Seville," "La Gazza Ladra," "Semiramis," "William Tell," etc.; he composed a "Stabat Mater," and a "Mass" which was given at his grave (1792-1868).