Possible Clues:

• Scotsman at home with one Italian composer
• Musician admits small sin to French king
• Composer who said 'Give me a laundry list and I'll set it to music'
• A museum in Pesaro, Italy, marks his birthplace
• Composer from Scottish shire in Italy
• Composer of the opera William Tell, d. 1868
• "Otello" composer
• 'Il Barbiere di Siviglia' composer
• Composer's somewhat cross, initially
• Notedly great Italian ship heading for Istanbul in cast iron