Born: 18 September 1587, Italy
Died: 1640
Country most active: Italy
Also known as: La Cecchina
The following bio was written by Emma Rosen, author of On This Day She Made History: 366 Days With Women Who Shaped the World and This Day In Human Ingenuity & Discovery: 366 Days of Scientific Milestones with Women in the Spotlight, and has been republished with permission.
Francesca Caccini was an Italian composer, singer, lutenist, poet, and music teacher in the early Baroque period. She was nicknamed “La Cecchina” by the Florentines, a friendly term based on her name. She is renowned for composing “La liberazione di Ruggiero,” recognized as the earliest opera by a woman composer. As a female composer, she also played a significant role in promoting her female patron’s cultural and political initiatives.
In 1625, “La liberazione di Ruggiero,” premiered in Florence, Italy. “La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’isola d’Alcina,” a 75-minute comedy-ballet Francesca composed for the visiting crown prince of Poland, showcasing a mix of parody, emotional depth, and sophisticated musical design, was so well-received that it was later performed in Warsaw in 1628, marking a rare international success for an Italian opera of its time. This work is considered the first opera written by a woman and is notable for its longevity, as it continued to be staged for almost 400 years.