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Italian composer and singing professor, renowned for the iconic Neapolitan song 'Funiculì, Funiculà'.Luigi Denza was born in Castellammare di Stabia, Italy. He studied at the Naples Conservatory under Saverio Mercadante and Paolo Serrao. His greatest success came in 1880 with the composition of 'Funiculì, Funiculà'. He moved to London in 1884, becoming a professor of singing at the Royal Academy of Music, a position he held until his death. He composed numerous other songs and some operas, but none achieved the enduring fame of 'Funiculì, Funiculà'.

• Denza composed 'Funiculì, Funiculà' to commemorate the opening of the first funicular cable car on Mount Vesuvius in 1880.
• The song became so popular and ingrained in Neapolitan culture that composer Richard Strauss, upon hearing it during a visit to Italy, mistakenly believed it to be a traditional folk song and incorporated its melody into his symphonic fantasy 'Aus Italien' (1886). Denza successfully sued Strauss for plagiarism.
• Despite his prolific output of over 600 songs and several operas (like 'Wallenstein' and 'Zoe'), only 'Funiculì, Funiculà' achieved truly international and lasting recognition.