Background
Manuel de Zumaya was born in Mexico.
Manuel de Zumaya was born in Mexico.
His music was the culmination of the Baroque style in the New World. He was the first person in the western hemisphere to compose an Italian-texted opera, entitled Partenope (now lost). In 1715, he was appointed chapelmaster of Mexico City"s cathedral, and was one of the first Americans to become one.
Manuel de Zumaya died on December 21, 1755, in Oaxaca, where he had resided since 1738.