Caccini, Francesca

"La Cecchina," (b. Florence, Sept. 18, 1587; d. Florence, c. 1640), daughter of GUILUIO CACCINI, was probably the first woman composer of operas. Caccini wrote a Ballo delle zingare (Florence, 1615) in which she acted as one of the gypsies. Her sacred drama Il martirio di Sant'Agata was produced in Florence in 1622. Her opera-ballet La liberazione di Ruggiero dall'isola d'Alcina was produced at a palace near Florence in 1625, and a book of songs from it was published that same year.