This Italian operatic composer and teacher was trained by Paisiello in Naples and later came to be the "censore" at the Milan Conservatory from 1838 until 1844. His major contribution was his book "Metodo pratico di canto italiano per camera" which was a practical and methodological approach to singing. It is also an invaluable source for singing practices from the nineteenth century. As an operatic composer Vaccai only had two successes from his seventeen attempts. Most of his operas were viewed as derivative of Rossini or in competition with the much more fiery works of Bellini. "Zadig e Astartea," 1825, and "Giuletta e Romeo," 1825, were both highly acclaimed and well received. The major scene from Vaccai's "Romeo and Juliet" was incorporated into Bellini's "I Capuletti ed i Mantecchi" by the singer Maria Malibran in an 1832 production of Bellini's work. This is important for two reasons. It helps one to understand that some of Vaccai's music was inspirational to contemporary composers and this practice, which is now an appendix to the Bellini opera, keeps Vaccai's music alive. ~ Keith Johnson, Rovi