Di Capua, Eduardo

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Di Capua, Eduardo

Di Capua, Eduardo, Italian composer of Neapolitan ballads; b. Naples, 1864; d. there, 1917. He earned his living by playing in small theaters and cafes in and around Naples, and later in the cinemas; also gave piano lessons. His most famous song was O sole mio (1898); its popularity was immense, and never abated. Other celebrated songs were Maria Mari (1899), Torna maggio (1900); Canzona bella, etc. Di Capua sold these songs to publishers outright, and so did not benefit by their popularity. He died in extreme poverty.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire