Lelio Colista

Lelio Colista (13 January 1629, Rome – 13 October 1680, Rome) was an Italian Baroque composer, lutenist, and guitarist.

Funded by his father, who held an important position in the Vatican Library, Colista early received an excellent musical education, probably at the Seminario Romano. He mastered several instruments, especially the lute, guitar, and theorbo. Already at the age of 30, he held a lucrative post of custode delle pittore at the papal chapel. In the decade that followed (the 1660s) he was maestro di cappella at the titular church in Rome San Marcello al Corso; two oratorios he wrote for San Marcello in 1661 and 1667 are now lost. His works are usually referred to by the thematic catalogue by Antonella D'Ovidio, denoted WK.

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