Ponte, Lorenzo Da. (1749 - 1838) Original Obituary with Lithograph Portrait in New York Mirror of 1838.New York Mirror, September 29, 1838. Full 8 page issue, featuring a full front page obituary of the important Mozart librettist with carryover to page two. Most famous for having written the libretti to three Mozart operas (Le Nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni, and Cosi fan Tutte) Da Ponte later settled in New York and founded the Italian Department at Columbia University. He died in NYC on August 17 and a requiem mass was celebrated a few days later in