Emilio Pizzi

Pizzi graduated from the Milan Conservatory in 1884 where he was a pupil of Antonio Bazzini and Amilcare Ponchielli and attended classes with Pietro Mascagni.

[1] Shortly after completing his education, he moved to London where he remained for almost 13 years.

In 1889 his first opera, Guglielmo Ratcliff, won first prize at the Baruzzi Competition.

His fourth opera, Gabriella, was commissioned by Adelina Patti and she portrayed the title role when the work premiered in Boston in 1893 at the Metropolitan Theatre with the composer in attendance.

Pizzi returned to Italy in 1897 to succeed Antonio Cesaro as the maestro di cappella at the Santa Maria Maggiore in Bergamo.