BaroqueFrancesca Caccini
Francesca Caccini was born in Florence, Italy, more than four hundred years ago.
Francesca Caccini’s life
The big moments of this life, and what was happening in the world at the same time.
A life at a glance
- 1587👶 Birth
Born in Florence on 18 September, daughter of the composer Giulio Caccini
- 1600🎩 Careerage 13
Sings, still a child, at the royal wedding festivities
- 1600🏛️ Landmarkage 13
First operas in Florence; wedding of Maria de’ Medici and Henri IV
- 1600🌍 Meanwhile
Shakespeare writes Hamlet (c. 1600)
- 1604🧳 Journeyage 17
Travels to France: Henri IV wants to keep her at court
- 1607🎩 Careerage 20
Enters the service of the Medici court
- 1607❤️ Private lifeage 20
Marries the musician Giovanni Battista Signorini
- 1609🌍 Meanwhile
Galileo observes the sky with his telescope
- 1618🎼 Workage 31
Il primo libro delle musiche, 36 songs for voice and continuo
- 1625🎼 Workage 38
La liberazione di Ruggiero, the first known opera by a woman
- 1637🌍 Meanwhile
The first public opera house opens in Venice
- 1641🕯️ Deathage 54
Last documented trace; date of death unknown
Listen to the music
Press the big button to listen. Close your eyes: how does it make you feel?
Francesca Caccini’s music is in the public domain, but Wikimedia Commons does not yet offer a freely licensed recording of these works. The links below lead to scores and searches on Commons; as soon as a free recording is published, it can be added here.
Once upon a time…
Francesca Caccini was born in Florence, Italy, more than four hundred years ago. Her dad was a famous singer and composer. At home everyone made music!
She learned to sing and to play the lute, harpsichord, harp and guitar. When she sang for King Henry IV of France, he was so amazed that he wanted to keep her in Paris!
Francesca worked for the powerful Medici family. In 1625 she wrote an opera full of magic: a knight held prisoner by a sorceress on an enchanted island. It is the very first known opera written by a woman.
It was even performed as far away as Poland. Today singers are happily rediscovering her songs.
Francesca Caccini’s instruments
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