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Although not born there, Domenico Cimarosa spent his early days in Naples, to where his parents moved a few days after he was born on 17th December 1749. After the early death of his father (a stonemason), his mother worked at the monastery as a laundress while Domenico attended the school nearby. He received music lessons from the monastery organist, who recognised his talent early on. By the age of 12 he was admitted to the Conservatorio di S Maria di Lorat where he remained for ten years. He furthered his musical experience there by becoming an able violinist and keyboard player, as well as an accomplished singer. While there he established himself as a composer, particularly of operas, although during his life he also composed many instrumental and orchestral works.

During his life Cimarosa travelled as far as St Petersburg (where he was appointed maestro di cappella at the court of Catherine II) spending time as well in Vienna as Kappellmeister. He also lived a little dangerously when he returned to Naples in 1793 by professing republican tendencies in a time when it was not good for the health to hold such views. Indeed, despite trying to ingratiate himself to the occupying monarch (Ferdinand), he spent four months in prison under sentence of death, only being saved by the petitioning of friends and admirers (including Lady Hamilton). After returning to Venice in 1801 his health rapidly deteriorated and he died on 11th January of that year.