Paolo Serrao

Who was 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.