Da Ponte, Lorenzo (Conegliano, Emanuelle)

(1749-1838)

   Italian poet and adventurer. His parents abandoned Judaism in 1763 and changed their names. He was trained for the Roman Catholic priesthood, but at the age of 21 he sought a more adventurous life in Venice. He turned to writing, was a friend of Casanova, and became involved in various love affairs. In 1779 he was expelled from Venice; later he settled in Vienna and became the imperial opera's Italian librettist. His librettos were used by Mozart. He later lived in London and the US.