After studying with Piccinni in Naples followed by the Conservatorio di S Onofrio under Fenaroli, Pavesi was dismissed for political reasons. He traveled to Marseilles and Dijon and joined the army of Napoleon. Leaving the army at Crema he came under the guidance and protection of Gazzaniga who helped him produce his first opera in Venice. 1803 was the premiere of "Un avvertimento di gelosi" and it was followed by almost seventy other operas. Pavesi was appointed the master of the chapel at Crema followed by music director of the Court Opera in Vienna for six months out of every year between 1826 and 1830. Pavesi had succeeded Salieri. Pavesi's music was marked for its bold characteristics including vital sonorous originality and clear, concise and well-crafted orchestrations. "Ser Mercantonio," 1810, received fifty four performances in a row at La Scala and other operas, notably "La fiera," "La festa della rosa" and "Fenella, ovvero La muta di Portici," also met with high acclaim. ~ Keith Johnson