Composer. He gave the word "opera" its present meaning. Beginning with its creator, Jacopo Peri, Italian music theatre had been referred to as "dramma per musica". Cavalli broke with this tradition by calling his first theatrical work, "Le Nozze di Teti" (1639), an "opera-scenica" ("scenic work"). Eventually shortened to "opera", this phrase became the name of the genre. Cavalli is also credited with introducing the "bel canto" style of singing, which emphasized long, smoothly-flowing melodic lines. Of his 33 operas, 27 survive and some have enjoyed successful modern revival. Cavalli spent most of his life in Venice, where he was organist at St. Mark's and a respected teacher. Barbara Strozzi was one of his pupils.
Composer. He gave the word "opera" its present meaning. Beginning with its creator, Jacopo Peri, Italian music theatre had been referred to as "dramma per musica". Cavalli broke with this tradition by calling his first theatrical work, "Le Nozze di Teti" (1639), an "opera-scenica" ("scenic work"). Eventually shortened to "opera", this phrase became the name of the genre. Cavalli is also credited with introducing the "bel canto" style of singing, which emphasized long, smoothly-flowing melodic lines. Of his 33 operas, 27 survive and some have enjoyed successful modern revival. Cavalli spent most of his life in Venice, where he was organist at St. Mark's and a respected teacher. Barbara Strozzi was one of his pupils.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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