Alessandro Scarlatti was an Italian Baroque composer and influential teacher. He composed over 500 operas and oratorios, as well as numerous sonatas, cantatas, and other works. His sonatas are among his most famous works, and he is also known for his use of the volta, a type of dance form. Alessandro Scarlatti was a contemporary of Antonio Vivaldi and Giovanni Battista Rossi, and was a mentor to Vincenzo Manzonni.