Interesting that recently I made the obverse error. Tried to parse “following year” as FY instead of F + Y.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pasta)

There’s even a picture of it under ‘Long Pasta and Noodles’, and it’s described as very thick, long, and hand-rolled.

It’s interesting to see which forms of pasta people seem unfamiliar with. ZITI is quite common over here, for example, and I’ve encountered all of the pastas clued except TAGLIARINI and CONCHIGLIE (actually, from its description I’ve probably encountered the latter as well but not that name for it). I tried to solve as much of the puzzle as I could without referring to references, but finally did need to go there for the last few pastas (and for the important opera composer; I must confess that I’m one of those solvers who know nothing of *both* opera composers and football players so I’m out of luck either way). Although most of pasta clues didn’t do much for me (other than ZITI which I enjoyed as soon as I solved it), there were a lot of down clues that I liked a lot. Thanks, Phi, for the puzzle!

To my mind Cimarosa is not that obscure,as Phi rightly says,an important opera composer in his day(over 80 operas).Il Matrimonio Segreto is a very funny light opera.
He also wrote a lovely Messa Da Requiem, well worth checking out if you like sacred music.I think most of it is available on Youtube,here’s a link to the Ingemisco http://tinyurl.com/5uxc9h8

Thanks Phi,for that rarity – an Indy puzzle without a soccer reference!

Pici?? Not in Chambers, nor in the list of pasta types in Chambers Crossword Companion. Nor Bradford or the COD. Where is it to be found?

Cimarosa was an important opera composer in his day, though you tend only to get Il Matrimonio Segreto staged these days. On a par, for me, with all those references to current soccer players that others seem fond of.