Giuseppe Millico

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Vito Giuseppe Millico (19 January 1737 – 2 October 1802), nicknamed “Il Moscovita,” was an Italian soprano castrato, celebrated for his interpretations of Christoph Willibald Gluck’s reform operas. Born in Terlizzi near Bari, he trained in Naples before making his debut in Rome in 1757 and spending 1758–65 at the Russian court. Gluck adapted the role of Orpheus in Orfeo ed Euridice for Millico’s soprano, and later rewrote Admetus in Alceste and created Paris in Paride ed Elena to showcase his range and artistry; their friendship led Gluck to entrust Millico with the musical education of his niece. After a celebrated stint at London’s King’s Theatre (1772–74), Millico returned to Naples in 1780 and became a sought‑after teacher—his pupils included Bourbon princesses Maria Teresa and Luisa Maria as well as Emma, Lady Hamilton—and an accomplished composer. His oeuvre comprises eight stage works, including the operas La Pietà d’Amore [1782], Zelinda and Le Cinesi, multiple cantatas, over eighty canzonettas, and a unique collection of twelve harp sonatas written for the Borbone princesses. As director of the Royal Chapel in Naples from 1780, Millico’s blend of performance, pedagogy and composition left a lasting imprint on late‑18th‑century Italian music. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

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