PERI, JACOPO (b. Rome, Italy, 20 Aug 1561; d. Florence, 12 Aug 1633 )
An Italian composer and singer at the sixteenth century court of the Medici. Nicknamed Il Zazzerino because of his long, golden hair, he became an influential member of the Camerata.
This group held discussions and made experiments which led to the development of the basis of the operatic form. In particular it advocated the use of recitative, by means of which the singer could convey words audibly to the audience.
Peri's work Dafne, composed in 1597 is considered the first opera, though most of its music is lost. He himself sang the part of Apollo in its first performance. In 1600, he took the part of Orpheus in his next work, Euridice. With his rival and fellow-member of the Camerata, Caccini, he is a founder of opera as we know it today.
