Mozart’s American Connection: Lorenzo Da Ponte (1749-1838)
Edward Fiorelli, Division of English and Speech, College of Professional Studies
Abstract
This paper discussed the pioneering work of Da Ponte (Mozart’s great librettist) who came to this country almost broke in 1811 and eventually became one of New York’s leading lights as a scholar, teacher, first professor of Italian at Columbia University, and founder of the Italian Opera House, New York City’s first theater built exclusively for opera. Briefly noted in the paper, also, is Da Ponte’s friendship with Clement Moore, popularly known as the author of “Night before Christmas.”