Porpora was born in Naples. His father, Carlo Porpora, owned a book shop. When he was ten years old, Porpora began to study music at a famous music school in Naples called the . He studied there for ten years. He composed his first opera, "Agrippina", when he was 22 years old. It was about Agrippina the Younger, the mother of the Roman Emperor, Nero. "Agrippina" was first performed in 1708 at the Royal Palace in Naples.