Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936) was a renowned Italian composer, violinist, and musicologist known for his vivid orchestral tone poems, particularly his "Roman Trilogy" (Fountains of Rome, Pines of Rome, Roman Festivals), blending late Romanticism with early music influences. Born in Bologna, he studied with Rimsky-Korsakov in Russia, gaining mastery in orchestration, and later became a professor at the St. Cecilia Academy in Rome, where he focused on Italian music history and created his famous works.