As a singing teacher and conductor Righini excelled. His compositions demonstrate a keen awareness of the capacity and limitations of the human voice. Joining an opera troupe from Prague in 1776 Righini composed his first three operas including "Il convitato di pietra" (1776). This was not only successful but it was performed in Vienna and Eszterhaza, because of Haydn, and, performed in both German and Italian. Emperor Joseph II summoned him to Vienna to direct the Italian Opera and to teach singing. This he did for the next eight years, 1780-87, during which time he wrote a set of beautiful solfeges entitled "Exercices pour se perfectionner dans l'art du chant" (Exercises for the perfection of the art of singing). Appointed as the first Italian Court Kapellmeister in Mainz, 1787-1793, Righini composed "Azione teatrale Alcide al bivio" and on the occasion of the coronation of Leopold II a "Missa solemnis." Qualitatively this mass was impassioned with character, technique and substance. In 1811 Righini became the Kapellmeister of the Royal Theater in Mainz. During his life Righini composed sixteen operas, that included dramatic ballets; he wrote music with profound feeling for both the voice and orchestra combining Italian emotion, color and authenticity with German method and technique. Compositions by Righini also included sacred songs, cantatas, songs and piano music. ~ Keith Johnson, Rovi