CESTI

cesti, marc' antonio (1620?-1669?), italian musical composer, was born at florence about 1620. he was a pupil of carissimi, and after holding a post somewhere in florence as _maestro di cappella_ entered the papal chapel in 1660. in 1666 he became _vice-kapellmeister_ at vienna, and died at venice in 1669. cesti is known principally as a composer of operas, the most celebrated of which were _la dori_ (venice, 1663) and _il pomo d' oro_ (vienna, 1668). he was also a composer of chamber-cantatas, and his operas are notable for the pure and delicate style of their airs, more suited to the chamber than to the stage.