Leonardo Vinci (1690 – 27 May 1730) was an Italian composer, best known for his operas. He was one of the originators of the Neapolitan style of opera; along with Nicola Porpora, his followers included Giovanni Battista Pergolesi and Johann Adolph Hasse.
He was born at Strongoli (or Naples) and educated at Naples under Gaetano Greco in the Conservatorio dei Poveri di Gesù Cristo. He first became known for his opera buffa in Neapolitan dialect “Lo cecato Fauzo” (1719, The False Blind Man). He served as chapelmaster to the prince of Sansevero and in 1725 he received a conductorship of the royal chapel at Naples, a post he held until his death. His earliest extant serious opera, “Silla Dittatore” (1723, Silla the Dictator) inaugurated a series of about 40 operas, most written for Naples but some for Rome. He was received into the Congregation of the Rosary at Formiello in 1728.
Arias from his operas were published in London in 1758 under the title Collection of Songs. In addition to his operas, Vinci also composed oratorios, masses and motets. He died in May of 1730. Vinci is rumoured to have been poisoned in the wake of a ill-advised affair.
Vinci’s opera buffa, of which “Li Zite in Galera” (1722) is generally regarded as the best, are full of life and spirit; his opera seria, of which “Didone Abbandonata” (Rome, 1728) and “Artaserse” (Rome, 1730) are the most notable, have an incisive vigour and directness of dramatic expression praised by Charles Burney. The aria “Vo solcando,” from Artaserse (Track 9 on the “Lava” CD), is a good example of his style.