Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710–1736) was an Italian Baroque composer, violinist, and organist, known for his contributions to opera and sacred music.
Born in Jesi, Italy, Pergolesi’s family name was derived from the town of Pergola, where his ancestors lived. He studied music in Naples at the Conservatorio dei Poveri, where he established his reputation as a talented violinist. 1732 saw him appointed to the position of maestro di cappella to the prince of Stigliano at Naples. He composed a Neapolitan opera buffa, Lo frate ’nnammorato, and a mass (probably his Mass in D). Both were well received. In 1733 his opera seria Il prigionier superbo
Pergolesi’s most famous work, La serva padrona (1733), was a comic intermezzo performed between acts of his opera seria Il prigionier superbo. This composition became a defining work of opera buffa, influencing composers such as Mozart. His opera L’Olimpiade is considered a masterpiece of opera seria.
In 1734 Pergolesi was appointed deputy maestro di cappella of Naples, and in May he went to Rome to direct the performance of his Mass in F.
Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, composed in 1736, is one of the most revered sacred works from this period. Written during his final months in a Franciscan monastery in Pozzuoli, it showcases his ability to blend emotional depth with intricate musical structure.
He died at the age of 26 from tuberculosis, leaving behind a legacy that continued to grow posthumously. Pergolesi’s contributions to opera and sacred music solidified his place as one of the most significant composers of the early 18th century. His ability to convey emotion through melody and harmony continues to inspire musicians and audiences alike.
Pergolesi’s music gained widespread recognition after his death, particularly in France, where La serva padrona sparked the guerre des bouffons—a debate between supporters of Italian and French opera. His works were often imitated, and some compositions attributed to him remain disputed. His influence extended to later composers, including Igor Stravinsky, who adapted Pergolesi’s themes in his ballet Pulcinella.
Despite a short, poverty stricken life, he still left a lasting impact on European music, particularly with his opera buffa La serva padrona, (“The Maid Turned Mistress”) which became one of the most celebrated stage works of the 18th century and his final work, the Stabat Mater.

Pergolesi’s Sinfonia is originally for cello and continuo and could have been written for his patron in Naples, Domenico Marzio Caraffa, the Duke of Maddaloni,…