after a degree in Classical Literature, studies in composition and a diploma in piano, deepened his musicology studies at the University of Freiburg under the guidance of H.H. Eggebrecht. He teaches History of Music at the Conservatorio 'N. Paganini' in Genoa (1977-80) and 'G. Verdi' in Milan (1980-2016), where he has been the coordinator of the musicology course since 2010. In 2012 he published an essay on Giulia Recli for the volume Le Lombarde in musica, followed by the monograph Il melodramma, le sue forme la vita musicale italiana nell'Ottocento (2016).
He has edited several entries for the Dizionario Enciclopedico Universale della Musica e dei Musicisti (DEUMM), has written theatre programmes for various institutions and was the coordinator responsible for those of the Società del Quartetto di Milano. In 2016 he conceived and promoted the research project 'Nei palchi della Scala (1778-1920)', in collaboration with the Conservatorio, the Teatro alla Scala and the Ufficio Ricerche Fonti Musicali (URFM) of the Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense.