Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, born on January 4, 1710, in Jesi, a small town in the Marche region of Italy, remains an important figure in the history of Baroque music. Though his life was tragically brief—he died at the age of 26—Pergolesi's contributions to music, particularly in the realm of opera, left an indelible mark on the art form.

Pergolesi was born into a family of modest means, but his prodigious musical talents were evident from an early age. Recognizing his potential, his family sent him to Naples, a thriving cultural centre at the time, to study music. There, Pergolesi was immersed in the vibrant Neapolitan musical scene, which was known for its operatic innovation and expressiveness. His teachers included some of the most prominent composers and theorists of the time, such as Francesco Durante and Gaetano Greco, who nurtured his innate talent and helped him develop the distinctive style that would later define his works.

Pergolesi's early compositions quickly garnered attention, and he was soon commissioned to write operas, sacred music, and instrumental pieces. His first major success came with the opera La Salustia in 1732, which showcased his ability to blend dramatic intensity with lyrical beauty. However, it was his opera Lo frate 'nnamorato that truly established him as a composer of note. This work, written in the vernacular Neapolitan dialect, was a precursor to his later success in the genre of opera buffa, or comic opera, which Pergolesi would help to popularize.

Pergolesi's most famous work, La serva padrona (1733), is often cited as a seminal piece in the history of opera. Originally composed as an intermezzo to be performed between the acts of a more serious opera, La serva padrona quickly eclipsed its parent work in popularity. The opera's lighthearted, yet sophisticated, exploration of social dynamics and class relations, combined with its engaging melodies and sharp characterizations, captivated audiences. It also played a crucial role in the Querelle des Bouffons, a heated debate in France over the merits of Italian opera buffa versus the more formal French opera seria. La serva padrona became a symbol of the Italian style's charm, accessibility, and lyrical naturalism, influencing the direction of European opera in the decades that followed.

Despite the success of La serva padrona, Pergolesi's life was plagued by ill health. He suffered from tuberculosis, a condition that worsened in his early 20s. Yet, even as his health declined, Pergolesi continued to compose prolifically. His sacred music, particularly the Stabat Mater (1736), stands as a testament to his deep spiritual conviction and compositional genius. Written in the final year of his life, the Stabat Mater is a poignant and powerful setting of the medieval hymn that meditates on the sorrow of the Virgin Mary at the foot of the cross. Pergolesi's treatment of the text is intimate and emotionally charged, employing simple yet affecting musical lines that convey the depth of the subject matter. The work has since become one of the most frequently performed pieces of sacred music from the Baroque era, admired for its beauty and emotional resonance.

Pergolesi's influence extended far beyond his lifetime. His music was highly regarded by later composers, including Johann Sebastian Bach, who arranged Pergolesi's Stabat Mater as a cantata. In many ways, Pergolesi's work lay the groundwork for the stylistic developments that would define composition in the latter eighteenth century.