Paolo Serrao
Paolo Serrao was a distinguished and influential Italian teacher of musical theory and composition at Naples.
Serrao was born in Filadelfia, Calabria. As professor of composition at the San Pietro a Maiella Conservatorio at Naples, over many years, he taught many famous Italian musicians, notably Giuseppe Martucci, Umberto Giordano, Leopoldo Mugnone, Michele Esposito, Francesco Cilea, Franco Alfano, Luigi Denza and Alessandro Longo.
He wrote five operas, of which Pergolesi was the most successful. His other compositions include both concert and sacred music. He died in Naples, aged 76.
Selected works
;OperaL'impostore, Opera semiseria Leonora dei Bardi, Opera seria Pergolesi, Melodramma semiserio in 3 acts ; libretto by Federico QuerciaLa Duchessa di Guisa, Melodramma in 4 acts ; libretto by Francesco Maria PiaveIl Figliuol Prodigo, Opera in 4 acts ; libretto by Achille de Lauzières;OrchestralSinfonia
;Chamber musicAndante e Fuga for string quartetElegia for violin and pianoMinuetto for harp or piano
;ChoralRequiem for mixed chorus and orchestraGli Ortonesi in Sciò, Oratorio