Baldassare Donato

Baldassare Donato (c. 1525/1530–1603) was an Italian composer and singer of the late Venetian school and a leading developer of the light secular villanella. First recorded as a singer at St Mark's Basilica in 1550, he was charged with training its choirboys in 1562.

When Gioseffo Zarlino became maestro di cappella in 1565 Donato was demoted to singer, and their feud ended in a brawl on the Feast of St Mark in 1569. He became Zarlino's deputy in 1588 and succeeded him at St Mark's in 1590, serving until his death.