The life of Francesca Caccini began on the 18th September, 1587. She was born in Florence, Italy, and was the daughter of Giulio Caccini, a celebrated composer of his era and prominent figure in the development of Baroque music.
Francesca Caccini’s Early Years
Young Francesca began her musical career as part of her family’s group, Concerto Caccini, which consisted of her father, mother and siblings. The Caccinis were like an early Von Trapp family and would perform for some of the most influential Italians. Francesca Caccini would later form her own all-female group, Concerto delle Donne, with her sister.
Caccini’s Success as a singer
Francesca Caccini’s first documented performance came in 1600, when she sang at Henry IV of France’s wedding to Maria de Medici. This was made possible by her father’s employment within the Medici court, but, despite the nepotism involved, Francesca Caccini impressed Henry IV of France and was, subsequently, invited to the French court.
In 1604, the Caccini family journeyed to France. Henry IV was enraptured by Francesca Caccini’s singing talents and requested that she remain in France under his employ at court. However, this request was denied by the officials in Florence, so Francesca and her family returned to Italy.
As a young woman, Francesca Caccini caught the attention of Claude Monteverdi who was also extremely impressed by her talents. Soon, she went on to gain admiration and great fame.
In 1607, Francesca became married to Giovanni Battista Signorini. However, this did not end her career. She continued to work as a singer and is known to have sung in the second Italian opera ever written, Euridice, which was penned by Jacopo Peri and her father, Giulio Caccini.
Francesca Caccini The Composer
Soon, Francesca Caccini’s creative talents began to shine through as she started to compose her own works. Many of her pieces were composed in collaboration with the librettist Michelangelo Buonaroti the Younger. Initially, she composed music for the Medici court, where she became so incredibly popular that she earned more money then her father had earned there.
During this time, opera itself was a relatively new genre and Caccini was certainly the first female opera composer. The very first opera to be written by a female composer was La liberazione di Ruggiero, which Caccini produced in 1625. Moreover, it is believed that this was the first Italian opera to be performed outside Italy. Francesca Caccini went on to compose a further three operas, but, sadly, these works have been lost.
Later Life of Caccini
Relatively little is known of Caccini’s later years and death. Some sources claim that she died in 1630, but others cite it as later. Florentine records state that a Francesca Caccini, wife of a senator, died in 1640. It is not certain whether this refers to the composer, as it would infer that she re-married, which no known documents verify.
In her comparatively short life, Francesca Caccini was a celebrated and prominent singer and composer. She played a large part in the development of opera and her work was fundamental to the distribution of the genre to the rest of Europe. The majority of her work has tragically been forgotten by history, but her achievements should always be remembered.
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