Pietro Platania

Who was Pietro Platania?

Pietro Platania was an Italian composer and teacher of music.

Platania was born at Catania. Beginning in 1882, he was the maestro di cappella of Milan Cathedral, and from 1885 until 1902 he served as the director of the Naples Conservatory. As a composer, he was known for his orchestral and church music. He was considered by Gioacchino Rossini and Giuseppe Verdi, among others, to be the greatest master of counterpoint of his day; the latter invited him to contribute to the Messa per Rossini, for which he wrote the Sanctus. He died in Naples.