1749day.year
Lorenzo Da Ponte
(1749 - 1838)
Italian-American priest and poet
Italian-American priest and poet
Italian-American priest, poet, and librettist who wrote the texts for Mozart's operas and helped establish Italian literature studies in the United States.
Lorenzo Da Ponte was born in Ceneda, Italy, in 1749. He served as a Catholic priest and gained fame as Mozart's librettist, penning the texts for iconic operas such as Le nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni, and Così fan tutte. After a scandal forced him to flee Europe, Da Ponte emigrated to New York City in 1805 and became America's first professor of Italian literature at Columbia College. He helped found New York City's first opera company and published translations and original poetry that promoted Italian culture in the young nation. Bridging the worlds of religion, literature, and music, Da Ponte left a lasting impact on both European opera and American cultural life. He died in New York City in 1838.
1749
Lorenzo Da Ponte