Composer of the Week: Nicola Porpora

This week: Nicola Porpora.

An operatic composer with a competitive streak, he thrived in an atmosphere of rivalry. Pitting himself against Hasse in Dresden and Handel in London, he seemed to arrive in town looking for a fight. He counted the famous castrato Farinelli as one of his protégées, and hired 20-year-old Haydn as his accompanist and valet!

Tune in to “A Little Night Music” every night this week just after 7 o’clock!