A distinguished Italian composer, Agostino Steffani started his career as a singer in operas and in the church. In 1680, Steffani became a priest and assumed the position of director of chamber music in the court of Maximilian II Emanuel. In 1706, Steffani became Bishop of Spiga and apostolic vicar for Northern Germany. Steffani wrote a great quantity of chamber duets, operas and sacred works in the bel canto style.