Francesca Caccini, an Italian composer, poet, and singer, is celebrated for her groundbreaking opera, La liberazione di Ruggiero, which holds the distinction of being the oldest opera composed by a woman. Born into a family of esteemed musicians, Francesca’s passion for music was nurtured from a young age. Under the guidance of her father, she honed her skills in music and singing, captivating audiences with her performances as a teenager. Joining her father at the prestigious Medici Court, Francesca’s talent flourished, leading her to create 17 theatrical works, although only a few have survived. Alongside her operatic achievements, she composed numerous smaller pieces and gained recognition for her poetry. Notably, Francesca held the highest-paid position at the Medici court for several years, while also dedicating herself to teaching and studying music from her home. Although she departed from the Medici court in 1641, her legacy endures, with La liberazione di Ruggiero remaining a testament to her remarkable contributions to the world of music.
Quick Facts
- Italian Celebrities Born In September
- Died At Age: 53
- Family:
- Spouse/Ex-: Giovanni Battista Signorini
- Father: Giulio Caccini
- Mother: Lucia Gagnolanti
- Siblings: Pompeo, Settimia
- Children: Margherita
- Born Country: Italy
- Composers
- Italian Women
- Died on: 1641
- Place of death: Florence, Italy
- City: Florence, Italy
Childhood & Early Life
Francesca Caccini was born on September 18, 1587, in Florence, Italy. Her parents were Giulio Cassini and Lucia Gagnolanti. Her father, a popular composer, gave Francesca and her sister Settimia early lessons in composing. Francesca’s mother and stepmother were also into singing, setting the stage for her career in music and singing from a young age.
In school, Francesca learned literature, Greek, Latin, and mathematics. She also participated in the musical competitions that her family frequently staged. At a young age, she performed on-stage for Jacopo Peri’s L’Euridice and Giulio Caccini’s Il rapimento di Cefala. She even performed as a singer in her father’s opera titled Euridice during the marriage function of Maria de’ Medici and King Henri IV of France when she was just 13 years old.
Career
Francesca had her own unique style of presentation, which caught the attention of King Henry, who offered her a position as a court singer. However, she declined the offer due to her loyalty to her father. She and her sister attempted to secure work outside of Florence but were unsuccessful. Eventually, they joined their father at the Medici Court, where he was a court musician.
As a court musician, Francesca’s main job was to play and teach music to the court members. She was a trained singer and proficient in multiple musical instruments. She taught music to all members of the court, regardless of their social class. Within a few years, she became the highest-paid court musician in Medici.
Francesca was not only a singer but also a revered music teacher. Her publication titled Il primo libro delle musiche served both artistic and pedagogical purposes. It contained a wide variety of genres, both secular and sacred, and included explicit notations for vocal ornamentation. The book was primarily used to teach her female students the basics of vocal techniques and gained a reputation among the top Medici women.
She composed approximately 17 theatrical works during her lifetime, most of which are now lost. She also composed shorter vocal works that were frequently performed by her female students. Francesca lived and worked closely with her father, teaching, composing, and studying music.
Style and Legacy
Francesca was known for her talent and speed as a composer. She composed a great volume of work, but unfortunately, most of it has been lost. Her compositions included stage musical pieces such as La Tancia, Il passatempo, and La fiera, which were often set to the comedies written by Michelangelo Buonarroti the Younger.
In 1625, she composed one of her most renowned works, La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’isola d’Alcina. This opera, performed on the occasion of the visit of the crown Prince of Poland to Italy, is credited as the first opera ever written by a woman. Her style of music and compositions has been frequently compared to great artists such as Monteverdi and Jacopo Peri. She was one of the pioneers of the baroque period in music, and her writing style was innovative, often incorporating humor into her poems.
After the success of La Liberazione, Francesca continued working at the Medici court. She relocated to Lucca in 1626 after her husband’s death and received a commission for two stage performances by Prince Wladyslaw. She worked at the Medici Court until 1641 and then disappeared from the public scene.
Personal Life & Death
Francesca Caccini married Giovani Battista Signorini, a court musician at the Florence court, in November 1607. They had a daughter in 1622. After her husband’s death, she married Tommaso Raffaelli, a nobleman, and had a child named Tomaso. Her second husband passed away in 1630. In May 1641, she left the Medici court, and the exact time of her death is debated, but it is believed that she died in 1645.