While touring Malta as a concert violinist in 1766 he was appointed a chamber musician to the court of Manuel Pinto de Fonseca, the Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

Angelo married a Maltese woman and remained in Malta for the rest of his life, later becoming the impresario of the Manoel Theatre in Valletta.

Another son, Giuseppe, the 11th of Angelo's thirteen children, became a lawyer.

Like his father, Antonio went to Naples for further training at the Conservatory of San Pietro a Majella.

He studied composition with Aniello Barbati and Nicola De Giosa and composed most of his mature works there, including his first opera, Zorilla, which premiered in 1872.