Francesco Durante, born on March 31, 1684, in Frattamaggiore near Aversa, Italy, was a prominent Italian composer renowned for his contributions to religious and instrumental music, as well as his influential role as a teacher. Durante received his education in Rome and likely in Naples, beginning his teaching career at the San Onofrio Conservatory in 1710. He served as chapelmaster at the Conservatorio dei Poveri di Gesù Cristo in Naples from 1728 to 1739, and in 1742, he joined the Santa Maria di Loreto Conservatory as a teacher. In 1745, he became the principal teacher at San Onofrio, succeeding Leonardo Leo. Durante's tenure was marked by a fierce rivalry between his students and those of Leo, with Durante's pupils including many distinguished composers of the Neapolitan school of 18th-century opera, such as Jommelli, Piccinni, Pergolesi, Paisiello, Traetta, and Vinci. His body of work encompasses motets, masses, oratorios, a setting of the Lamentations of Jeremiah, harpsichord pieces, and string music. Francesco Durante passed away on August 13, 1755, in Naples at the age of 71.