Jacopo Peri

Jacopo Peri (1561-1633) was an Italian singer, organist, and composer. He is credited with composing music for the first opera. He composed music for dramatic works, songs, and ricercars. He was a member of a group of poets and musicians known as the Florentine Camerata. The group is credited with creating the earliest operas. In 1598 Peri set the poem Dafne by Ottavio Rinnucini to music. It is the first opera. Only the music for the opera survives.