Luigi Denza

Luigi Denza ( born February 24, 1846 in Castellammare di Stabia, Campania, † January 26, 1922 in London) was an Italian composer.

Denza studied composition with Saverio Mercadante and Paolo Serrao at the Conservatoire of Naples. In 1898 he became a professor of singing at the Royal Academy of Music. Denza wrote an opera, Wallenstein, but especially a variety of songs. Most Popular of it was Funiculì, Funiculà (Text Peppino Turco ), in 1880 resulting song on the new funicular on Mount Vesuvius. Richard Strauss built the melody six years later as a " folk song" in his symphony " From Italy " one, but was sued by Denza and had to pay this in the following royalties.