‘Jommelli, the creator of a quite new taste, and certainly one of the foremost musical geniuses who have ever lived… opened up a path all of his own.’ Thus wrote the esteemed 18th-century commentator CF Schubart of the Italian composer Niccolò Jommelli, who died 250 years ago in 1774. Jommelli wrote some 80 operas as well as numerous sacred works, and was hailed during his lifetime as one of Europe’s greatest composers, but his music has subsequently fallen into neglect. In this talk, Ian Page – conductor and artistic director of The Mozartists – discusses Jommelli’s life and reputation, and introduces the music being performed in the evening concert.