Musicologist, composer, director, and scholar Roberto De Simone passed away at the age of 91, surrounded by his family in his home.

De Simone was born in Naples, Italy, on Aug. 25, 1933. He studied piano and composition at the San Pietro a Maiella Conservatory. After graduating, he went on to perform as a harpsichordist in the Domenico Scarlatti Orchestra and began working as an ethnomusical researcher and essayist, mainly focused on the southern Italy folk music of oral tradition, with a specific interest in tarantism and funeral laments. From 1972 to 1976, he taught music history at the Conservatorio San Pietro a Majella in Naples.

In 1976, he made his debut as a playwright (also serving as librettist, composer, and director) with the musical “La Gatta Cenerentola,” which was first staged at the Festival dei Due Mondi in Spoleto. Later this work enjoyed national and international success, as it was performed at the Vivian Beaumont Theater in New York City and at the Edinburgh International Festival. Other stage works by De Simone include “Mistero napoletano,” “L’Opera buffa del Giovedì Santo,” which is based on Pergolesi’s “Stabat Mater,” “Messa di requiem,” and many more. He also composed several film scores.

As Artistic Director of the Teatro San Carlo from 1981 to 1987, he revived several 18th-century operas. De Simone was invited by Riccardo Muti to direct Verdi’s “Nabucco” at La Scala’s 1986-87 season opening, with Renato Bruson and Ghena Dimitrova in the leading roles. The production was revived in 1988 and 1996. In 1989, he directed Gluck’s “Orfeo ed Euridice” with Bernadette Manca di Nissa as Orfeo, and also Pergolesi’s “Lo frate ‘nnamorato.” In 1990, he was scenic director for Mozart’s “Idomeneo” with Giuseppe Sabbatini in the title role, again for the opening of the season. He collaborated with Muti again for the opening of the 1995-96 season with Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte,” which was broadcast and produced for LaScalaTv. Closing out his career, De Simone was director of the Conservatorio San Pietro a Majella from 1995 to 2000.

He became a member of the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in 1998 and received the Roberto Sanseverino Prize in 2003. Later, he was awarded the Nonino Risit d’Aur Prize in 2015 and the title of Cavaliere of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 2019.

A funeral was held on April 9 at the Cathedral of Naples.