Contralto or Bass voice. Nicola Vaccai was born in Tolentino, Italy, on March 15th, 1790; he died on August 5th or 6th, 1848, in Pesaro (located on the Adriatic) , the town in which he had grown up and to which he retired in 1844. He was successful as a singing teacher and opera composer, though he was eclipsed in the latter field by his rival, Bellini. He is known today primarily as the author of the present vocal method.