Stefano Donaudy

Stefano Donaudy (February 21, 1879 – May 30, 1925) was an Italian composer. Born in Palermo to a French father and an Italian mother, he was active in the 1890s and early 20th century, at a time when Palermo enjoyed a period of relative splendour under the influx of rich Anglo-Sicilian families such as the Florios and Whitakers. A variety of sources date both his first opera Folchetto and one of his most popular songs, Vaghissima sembianza, to 1892, when he was only 13. After studies with the director of Palermo's Conservatoire, Guglielmo Zuelli, Donaudy made a living as singing teacher, coach and accompanist for some of Sicily's wealthiest families, while actively pursuing a career as a composer.