Charles-Antoine Campion (later Italianized as Carlo Antonio Campioni) was born in 1720 in the region of Lorraine, France. At age 17 he and his family moved to Florence in Italy, where the young prodigy received lessons from the famous Tartini. After serving for 10 years as Chapel Master of the Livorno Cathedral he was asked by the Grand Duke of Tuscany to move to Florence again and he was appointed Master of the Court Chapel. He became increasingly famous, and he traveled himself to several European capitals (Paris and London) to see to the publication and promotion of his own compositions.
The typical Neapolitan dessert «Babà» originated across the Alps in Poland and is therefore a perfect synonym for the musical treasures of Aloys Thomas Raimund Count Harrach. The count, initially a diplomat in the imperial service and ultimately viceroy of Naples, possessed an eclectic taste ranging from music from German states and Viennese pièces to Neapolitan concerti. Buon appetito!