This Italian composer and conductor scored a number of failures, and musically disappointing operas. His early career met with little success with operas playing in Rome, Venice, Florence, Naples and Palermo. His first success came in Paris after 1803 when he was patronized by Josephine and even this success was delayed until 1807. The medium he chose was the lyric tragedy and "Fernand Cortez," celebrating Napoleon, was initially produced in 1809 but did not succeed until it was revisited in 1817. This work was characterized predominantly by its grandeur. Spontini's last opera in Paris, "Olimpie" failed miserably. Three years later he was in Berlin as the general music director of the opera. He was patronized and protected by the king but had to contend with competition from Rossini, Meyerbeer and disfavor from Weber. The only opera of import by Spontini was "Agnes von Hohenstaufen," 1837. Qualitatively, Spontini attempted to employ movements of the French and Italian idioms by scoring fewer solo numbers and more large ensemble pieces. Characteristics within the music and story included ceremonial pomp in a variety of theatrical displays. ~ Keith Johnson, Rovi