Lorenzo Da Ponte

Lorenzo Da Ponte , , .}} (; 10 March 174917 August 1838) was an Italian, later American, opera librettist, poet and Roman Catholic priest. He wrote the libretti for 28 operas by 11 composers, including three of Mozart's most celebrated operas: ''The Marriage of Figaro'' (1786), ''Don Giovanni'' (1787), and ''Così fan tutte'' (1790).

He was the first professor of Italian literature at Columbia University, and with Manuel Garcia, the first to introduce Italian opera to America. Besides Mozart, Da Ponte was also a close friend of Casanova. Provided by Wikipedia