Born in Torino in 1861, Stanislao Gastaldon was an Italian composer and music critic. Though today he is remembered almost exclusively for the operatic aria Musica proibita, he was a prolific composer in the Neopolitan song style, writing almost 300 in all. He also composed several operas, although these works are seldom performed, and they include Maia Pasqua, Donna Clara and La Stellina.

The aria/song Musica proibita, besides being popular in Italy, was the basis for the song “O Promise Me,” in the American musical, Robin Hood, from the 1890s.