Francesco Siciliani; Italian Opera Impresario

Francesco Siciliani, 85, one of Italy’s leading opera impresarios. Siciliani, who once said he learned to read notes before words, was a musical prodigy and composer. He became famous for helping revive Italy’s musical scene after World War II. Among the great opera houses he led were Milan’s La Scala, the San Carlo theater in Naples and the Florence opera. He promoted the early careers of such artists as Maria Callas and Renata Tebaldi. At the time of his death, he was artistic director of the Venice opera. Born in Perugia, by age 6 he was playing piano and conducting in public. Among his compositions are “Psalm 12” and “Four Madrigals of Tasso.” On Tuesday in Rome of lung cancer.