Jacopo Peri
(1561-1633)

 

Italian singer and composer. Peri was a member of Giovanni de' Bardi's Camerata, which played an important role in shaping Florentine dramatic music of the late 16th century. Jacopo Corsi and Peri together composed the first genuine opera, Dafne (Florence, 1597/8), to a libretto by Rinuccini.
Peri next collaborated with his rival Caccini on another libretto by Rinuccini, Euridice (Florence, 1600). Both Dafne and Euridice were important experiments in setting a long dramatic text to music throughout.