Background
Leontaritis was born in 1518 in Crete, he was an established musician and soon moved from Crete to Italy to study Renaissance polyphonic music
Leontaritis was born in 1518 in Crete, he was an established musician and soon moved from Crete to Italy to study Renaissance polyphonic music
He is considered by many as the father of modern Greek classical music He was a student of some of the greatest musicians of his time like Orlande de Lassus and Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. He worked as a musician in choirs in Venice under the direction of Adrian Willaert.
He established a reputation very quickly in Venice as a very capable composer and singer (cantore).
He was thus invited to sing in churches in Rome and Padova. He was summoned to perform often at houses of nobles such as Antonio Zantani.
He also worked as a composer in Augsburg and Salzburg. In 1568 he returned to Crete possibly to avoid his debts.