Gaspare Luigi Pacifico Spontini (14 November 1774 – 24 January 1851) was an influential Italian opera composer and conductor, active during the late Classical and early Romantic periods. Born in Maiolati, Papal States, Spontini was initially intended for a clerical career but pursued music studies at the Conservatorio della Pietà de' Turchini in Naples. Although he left the conservatory before completing his education, he began his career in Italian opera, achieving early success with works like "Li Puntigli delle Donne" in 1796.

Spontini moved to Paris in 1803, where he was quickly recognized for his talent and became a protégé of Empress Joséphine. He was appointed as her official composer in 1805. His most celebrated work, "La Vestale" (1807), established him as a leading figure in French opera, admired by contemporaries such as Beethoven and Rossini. Spontini's operas, including "Fernand Cortez" (1809) and "Olimpie" (1819), were known for their grandeur and innovative orchestration, bridging the styles of Gluck and Wagner.

Despite his success, Spontini faced challenges under the Bourbon Restoration and moved to Berlin in 1820, where he served as Kapellmeister and composed the Prussian National Anthem "Borussia." His later years were marked by political intrigue and a decline in his career, leading him to return to Italy in 1842. Spontini died in his hometown of Maiolati in 1851, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneer of the Romantic grand opera genre.